Subject: Leading The Change In Your Family, Church, or Business
By Rick Welborne
By Rick Welborne
Judges 6:12-16 (NKJV)
12 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!"
13 Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."
14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?"
15 So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I amthe least in my father's house."
16 And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."
12 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!"
13 Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."
14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?"
15 So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I amthe least in my father's house."
16 And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."
--I believe we all want to make a difference…I believe Gideon wanted to make a difference but he could not see how it would be possible…he said the world is a mess and my family is the weakest around.
--Our weaknesses may not be the same and our excuses for not doing something for God may not even come close to Gideon’s but the time to be the change you want to see is now.
Stephen Covey – The key is taking responsibility and initiative, deciding what your life is about, and prioritizing your life around the most important things.
--We all have the potential to kick up some dust and make a difference but the greatest things we do come from our actions not our words.
James 1:22-25 (NLT)
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
--What we do for God in our family, our church, and business should keep us moving forward not looking backward.
Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
--What we need to see in these last days are believers who are people of action…our actions are what separate those who want to be leaders and those who just talk.
--People who hold back from being all in and helping the organization can obviously stir up a lot of dust but they get the group nowhere…they create no motion.
--Kids in a sand box kick up a whole lot of dust but really do not get anywhere…people who stir up things for the greater good will be successful…God and Gideon were going to stir things up.
--Truett Cathy, founder of Chic-fil-A, died at the age of 93…He was a leader who wanted to make a difference with more than just chicken. He taught a boys Sunday School class for more than 50 years.
--He formed to WinShape Foundation where he worked to develop leaders and academic scholarships for team members. He had homes and camps for kids who needed a chance.
--He said he was not really in the chicken business; he was in the people business. Chicken was simply a tool to accomplish his real purpose: honoring God and helping people.
Ketterling – Those who lead with intentionality and purpose can inspire people to do more than they thought possible.
John Maxwell – A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
--The remainder of our time let’s look at these three strategies.
1. Real leaders know the way.
John 14:6 (NLT)
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
--Before we continue our discussion on knowing the way, we must reiterate than Jesus is the way…without Him we can do nothing of lasting value.
--Sadly too many leaders have no idea where they are going so they obviously cannot lead anyone else. Reminder of the pastor friend who said he followed his people…He is not a true leader.
--Sadly many people do rise to their level of incompetence, we do not have to be those people.
--Real leaders not only see the future, they have specific strategies in place for taking themselves and their organizations into the future. Our key here at Life Church is Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 29:18 (NKJV)
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
--If we are not careful in our family, our church, or business, the longer we are there the greater the tendency to lose sight of our original goals. Husband or wife wanted their marriage to be the best.
--Let’s be honest with ourselves…life can get busy and be extremely complicated or even very disappointing but we do not fail because of these issues…we fail because we take our eyes off the prize…we lose focus.
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
--John Maxwell said that leaders know the way. Knowing means establishing or fixing something in your mind. Some of our previous visions may need re-vision.
--This is so important to get about your plans and visions…as life unfolds, sometimes we must adjust our strategies to fit the differences between what we anticipated and reality. That is what leaders do.
--We could learn something from Newton’s First Law of Motion – an object in motion will remain in motion and an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an outside force.
--So many in the background or on the back pew are there to remain at rest…they have no desire to move or change…They like being close to the exists…when things get tough or does not go there way they can check out quickly.
--Those who move forward to help, even if it is a little reminds me of Zig Zeigler – Inch by inch everything is a cinch!
2. Real leaders go the way.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV)
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
--This is leadership by example…leaders should not be afraid to step out in faith first. They do not ask people to do what they are not willing to do themselves. This is a review from a previous message.
A. Be excellent in everything you do.
--Excellence is not just an idea…it is a foundational principle of real leaders.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV)
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
B. Do what you say you will do.
--Don’t make promises you cannot keep or have no intention of doing. When you do not keep your promises in the family, church, or business trust begins to erode.
James 5:12 (NIV)
12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.
12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.
--Don’t be careless with the words you use…people are watching for you to make a mistake…don’t give them ammunition.
C. Make people important.
--I have never regretted the time I have spent in developing relationships. Loving the people you are around will go a long way…get out of your comfort zone and touch people.
--When people know they matter to you, they will be more loyal and supportive.
John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
D. Encourage cooperation.
--There is really no place for independent thinking people in the home, church, or business…the more feedback and involvement you have the greater the success. Collaboration can improve the mission of the church or team.
--When people work together, they gain a new appreciation for each other and for the success of the organization.
Psalm 133:1-3 (NIV)
1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
D. Deal with conflict quickly.
--Everyone and every organization will have conflict…deal with it in love and do it quickly. Conflict does not have to be negative because the intent should be for reconciliation.
Matthew 18:15-17 (NKJV)
15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'
17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'
17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
E. Invest in others.
--We should be raising up others who could take our place if something were to happen to us. Literally, good leaders should be working themselves out of a job.
--It is the concept of LEGACY – Leading Every Generation Adults Children Youth
3. Real leaders show the way.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)
19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
--We figure out ways of connecting people to us and to the gospel of Jesus Christ…we show the way.
--So many times our insecurity will cause us to reject or shy away from people who intimidate us instead of leading them to use all that they have for the gospel…the more you make them shine…the more you shine.
--Our job is to show people how to be connected and not to be so discouraged by the lack of constructive leadership that they leave the organization.
John Maxwell – Leadership is influence…nothing more…nothing less.
--All of us need to ask the question…Would you follow you?
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