Leadership - Will You Lead - 6 - Discipline

Subject: How To Address Issues

by Rick Welbourne

　

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.

Matthew 18:15-17 (NLT) 

15 "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.

16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.

17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

Matthew 18:15-17 (MSG)

15 "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend.

16 If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again.

17 If he still won't listen, tell the church. If he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love.

–When I look at these verses I see a plan for us to follow when we have something against another believer...this is definitely a test of your leadership.

–It is so easy for these verses to get overlooked and even abused when our pride or spirit has been wounded.

–We either use these verses as a means of going after someone or we use them as an excuse for whatever choice we make against the person we are dealing with.

–When we approach someone with an attitude of attacking them, their character, or their perceived sin against us we are not truly following these verses the way that Christ intended

–When we blame others for not coming to us personally and trying to work out the offense...we sometimes throw up a smoke screen to cover our sin.

–If we do not keep the scriptures in their context they become a pretext (a cover) to have our own way instead of what the Word and Jesus intended.

–So what was the context of these verses that Jesus was talking about? Jesus had just given the parable of the lost sheep and how we leave the 99 to find the one: He says:

Matthew 18:14 (NLT) 

14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.

–Keeping it in context here in these verses it is easy to see that Jesus was concerned that the two spoken of work out their differences.

–Jesus points out the need and the purpose of these verses is for their to be reconciliation and healing of the relationship...you talk about challenging your leadership skills.

1. Jesus says for there to be reconciliation there must be communication.

–You do not have to have a degree to find out that a major problem in the home, church, business is a lack of communication or mis-communicating.

–The reason the scriptures are so clear on going directly to the person that you have an issue with is because confusion bakes in the heart of the uninformed.

–You can talk to five different people about the issue at hand and get five different versions of the same story...none which will represent the whole truth of the situation.

–Going to and communicating with the person directly will cut through the bull (believing unbelievable little lies) and help to resolve the situation.

–Most situations can be resolved quickly if the two parties sit down and reason together...

More likely than not you will find it was just a misunderstanding.

–Way too much drama has occurred in work places, churches, and homes because everyone was talked to except the person who really mattered. I think that is called gossip!

Psalm 15:1-3 (NLT) 

1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.

3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.

–Rob Ketterling says that true leaders do what these verses say and they lead by example. He says:

A. Be excellent in everything you do. Excellence isn’t an idea but is a foundation of dedicated leaders.

B. Do what you say you will do. Don’t be careless with the words you use. People are looking for reasons to discredit leaders; don’t give them the ammunition to use against you.

C. Make people important. You’ll never regret the time spent developing relationships. When people know they matter to you, they’ll be more loyal and supportive.

D. Encourage cooperation. When people work together, they gain a new appreciation for the overall mission of the organization and the contributions other people make.

E. Deal quickly with conflict. Conflicts are inevitable. Left unattended, they usually get worse. Few people like to deal with conflicts, but good leaders do it anyway.

Matthew 18:15 (NLT) 

15 "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.

–So many times we refuse to go to the other person because of pride or intimidation. We must be biblical in dealing with others...remember you reap what you sow.

–Maybe it won’t work out but at least you have done your part as you go in love and with the right attitude. You may just win the person back and heal the relationship.

–Warning: When you go to others instead of the person you have the issue with, someone else may take up your offense...this is bad news...they are usually more upset.

–If you work it out with your brother or sister that does not mean the one who took up your offense will do the same...Read the book Bait of Satan by John Bevere.

F. Invest in others. Are you developing other leaders or is it all about you? Good leaders understand their responsibility for strengthening the organization by empowering people to learn and grow.

–All of these points by Ketterling pretty much take communication to make them happen. Before you let a relationship die please go to the person and try to talk it out.

If you talk it out you can work it out!

–From a pastor’s perspective...before you just walk away, at least have the courtesy to come, sit down, and talk about what the issue is. I share this in New Member’s class.

–We may still disagree and we may still part ways but at least we can do it biblically and do it with the love of Christ...the Kingdom of God is blessed with this attitude.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV) 

16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 

17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 

18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 

19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. 

2. Jesus says for there to be reconciliation there must be cooperation. 

–As a Christian and as a leader I have been amazed how hard people work at not getting along and how hard they work to not cooperate.

–It is so interesting that in the very same chapter where it talks about people communicating to reconcile that it also goes on and talks about cooperating.

Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV) 

19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

–If we truly gather in His Name, there should be no divisions among us and there should be a willingness to resolve things quickly. Sign of a true Christian leader.

–Let’s keep these verses in context: Jesus is talking about none of the sheep being hurt or lost...He is also talking about working out problems with fellow believers.

–Jesus then says...I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything (the anything here is whatever the issue was) that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

–What this is saying is that Jesus and the Father are available for believers who have issues with each other to help them work out their differences.

–Sadly we go to everyone else (usually politicking for our side) instead of to Jesus... because of this, differences are not resolved and people are hurt.

Also, the Kingdom of God suffers too because offenses have a way of getting to the ears of the lost...they think, if that is how Christians treat each other, it is not for me.

–Leaders and Christians in general need to humble themselves in the sight of God and allow God to be the one Who brings peace to a bad situation.

James 4:1-10 (NLT) 

1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?

6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble."

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. 

–Illustration: Two people in opposition facing one another...contentious. One decides to turn to the Lord, humble himself, and bow. Who does that leave the person who has not humbled himself facing? Jesus. Let Jesus deal with the person.

3. Jesus says for there to be reconciliation there must be restoration. 

–The goal of these verses is for there to be restoration...restoration with the boss and the employee, restoration with the husband and wife, restoration of pastor and church member.

–True Christian leadership strives toward unity and restoration and the different translations say it this way: you have gained your brother...you have won that person back...you've made a friend.

–Obviously Peter (who had a big mouth) was ‘kind of’ struggling with this whole concept. In the same chapter it goes on and says this.

Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV) 

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"

22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

–Jesus was saying your brother has to really be a royal mess up for you not to keep forgiving him.

–My word to people is this...If you have forgiven someone 490 times and they sin against you again...please forgive them but find a new brother to hang around.

–It might be time for you to find a new friend.

–So here’s the conclusion...if someone sins against you...Communicate with them in love,

Cooperate with the Lord in reconciliation, allow there to be restoration and forgiveness.

Leadership - Will You Lead - 5

Subject - Leading Wherever You Are

by Rick Welbourne

I. Leading Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges

A. The most persistent barrier to leading like Jesus is a heart motivated by self interest.

B. Another factor that needs to be considered is whether we are driven people or called people...

C. Are you a self- serving leader or a servant leader?

How do you handle feedback? 

How do you plan for Successors?

Who leads and who follows?

II. Understanding and Overcoming The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lecioni

Dysfunction 1: Absence of Trust

A. Trust lies at the heart of a functioning, cohesive team. Without it, teamwork, is all but impossible. True with church, business, or home.

Lecioni - In the context of building a team, trust is the confidence among team members that their peer’s intentions are good, and that there is no reason to be protective or careful around the group. In essence, teammates must get comfortable being vulnerable with one another.

B. Standard definition of trust: Centers around the ability to predict a person’s behavior based on past experience. For instance: one might ‘trust’ that a given teammate will produce high quality work because he has always done so in the past.

C. This is good and may be desirable, it is not enough to represent the kind of trust that is characteristic of a great team...we all have the potential to make mistakes.

D. Trust requires that team members make themselves vulnerable to one another, and that they be confident that their respective vulnerabilities will not be used against them.

E. These vulnerabilities include weaknesses, skill deficiencies, interpersonal shortcomings, mistakes, and requests for help.

F. When team members become comfortable with their own vulnerabilities, they can begin to act without concern of protecting themselves.

G. As a result, they can focus their energy and attention completely on the job at hand instead of being disingenuous or political with one another...be yourself.

H. Listen to the characteristics of a team with an absence of trust:

–They conceal their weaknesses and mistakes from one another and they hesitate to ask for help or to provide constructive feedback.

–They hesitate to offer help outside their own areas of responsibility and jump to conclusions about the intentions and aptitudes of others without attempting to clarify them...we are quick to judge but slow to help.

–They fail to recognize and tap into one another’s skills and experiences. They waste time and energy managing their behaviors for effect...become selfish.

–They hold grudges and dread meetings and find reasons to avoid spending time together.

I. Characteristics of teams who trust one another.

–They admit weaknesses and mistakes...they ask for help. They accept questions and input about their areas of responsibilities.

–They give one another the benefit of the doubt before arriving at a negative conclusion.

They take risks in offering feedback and assistance.

–They appreciate and tap into one another’s skills and experiences. They focus time and energy on important issues, not politics.

–They offer and accept apologies without hesitation. Forgive and be forgiven. They look forward to meetings and other opportunities to work as a group.

J. So how do we overcome Dysfunction 1: Absence of Trust?

–It only comes from team members who are willing to stay together a long time. The leader must be willing, first of all, to show sincere vulnerability.

–An environment must be created that does not punish vulnerability...do we?

–Finally, displays of vulnerability by the team leader must be genuine; they cannot be staged. One of the best ways to lose the trust of a team is to feign vulnerability in order to manipulate the emotions of others.

How does this connect to Dysfunction 2 - The Fear of Conflict?

–By building trust, a team makes conflict possible because team members do not hesitate to engage in passionate and sometimes emotional debate, knowing that they will not be punished for saying something that might otherwise be interpreted as destructive or critical. Respect is key.

Dysfunction 2 - The Fear of Conflict

A. All great relationships, the ones that last over time, require productive conflict in order to grow. This is true in marriage, church, parenthood, friendship, and business.

B. Unfortunately, conflict is considered taboo in many situations, especially at work.

C. The higher up you go up the management chain you see people spending inordinate amounts of time and energy trying to avoid the kind of passionate debates that are essential to any great team.

D. Teams that engage in productive conflict know that the only purpose is to produce the best possible solution in the shortest period of time. Conflict can be positive.

Lencioni: It is also ironic that so many people avoid conflict in the name of efficiency, because healthy conflict is actually a time saver. Contrary to the notion that teams waste time and energy arguing, those who avoid conflict actually doom themselves to revisiting issues again and again without resolution.

E. Listen to the characteristics of a team who avoids conflict.

–They have boring meetings. They create environments where back-channel politics and personal attacks thrive.

–They ignore controversial topics that are critical to team success. They fail to tap into all the opinions and perspectives of team members.

–They waste time and energy with posturing and interpersonal risk management.

F. Teams that engage in healthy conflict.

–They have lively, interesting meetings. They extract and exploit the ideas of all team members. They solve real problems quickly.

–They minimize politics. I hate politics. They put critical topics on the table for discussion.

G. So how do we overcome Dysfunction 2: Fear of conflict?

–The first step is to acknowledge that conflict is healthy and should not be avoided.

Also, the leader must avoid the temptation to rescue a team member prematurely.

–The leader himself must model appropriate behavior for healthy conflict. Conflict that is suppressed long enough will become combat. Marriage.

Connection to Dysfunction 3: The Lack of Commitment

–By engaging in productive conflict and tapping into team member’s perspectives and opinions, a team can confidently commit and buy in to a decision knowing that they have benefitted from everyone’s ideas.

Dysfunction 3: The Lack of Commitment

A. In the context of a team, commitment is a function of two things: clarity and buy-in.

B. Great teams make clear and timely decisions and move forward with complete buy-in from every member of the team, even those who voted against the decision. Unity.

C. They leave the meeting confident that no one on the team is quietly harboring doubts about whether to support the actions agreed on.

D. The two greatest causes of the lack of commitment are the desire for consensus and the need for certainty. The Day of Pentecost 120 bought in.

Lencioni: Great teams understand the danger of consensus, and find ways to achieve buy-in even when complete agreement is impossible. They understand reasonable human beings do not need to get their way in order to support a decision, but only need to know that their opinions have been heard and considered. Great teams ensure that everyone’s ideas are genuinely considered, which then creates a willingness to rally around whatever decision is ultimately made by the group. And when that is not possible due to an impasse, the leader of the team is allowed to make the call.

Certainty: Great teams also pride themselves on being able to unite behind decisions and commit to clear courses of action even when there is little assurance about whether the decision is correct. That is because they understand the old military axiom that a decision is better than no decision. They also realize that it is better to make a decision boldly and be wrong—and then change direction with equal boldness—than it is to waffle.

E. A team that fails to commit:

–Creates ambiguity among the team about direction and priorities. Watches windows of opportunity close due to excessive analysis and unnecessary delay.

–Breeds lack of confidence and fear of failure. Revisits discussions again and again.

Encourages second-guessing among team members. Stirs the pot.

F. A team that commits:

–Creates clarity around direction and priorities. Aligns the entire team around common objectives. Develops an ability to learn from mistakes.

–Takes advantage of opportunities before competitors do. Moves forward without hesitation. Changes direction without hesitation or guilt.

G. So how do we overcome Dysfunction 3: The Lack of Commitment?

–By taking steps to maximize clarity and achieve buy-in while resisting the lure of consensus or certainty. Make sure that everyone is on the same page by clarifying and reviewing the decision.

–One of the best tools for ensuring commitment is the use of clear deadlines when decisions will be made, and honoring those dates with discipline and rigidity.

H. The leader must be willing to make mistakes and then show strength by a willingness to admit it and then change direction with confidence.

Connection to Dysfunction 4: Avoidance of Accountability

–In order for teammates to call each other on their behaviors and actions, they must have a clear sense of what is expected. Even the most ardent believers in accountability usually balk at having to hold someone accountable for something that was never bought in to or made clear in the first place. More information is better than less.

Dysfunction 4: Avoidance of Accountability

A. In the context of teamwork, accountability refers specifically to the willingness of team members to call their peers on performance or behaviors that might hurt the team.

B. Great teams are willing to push past their own comfort zone to confront a team member with their performance...this is scary for some.

C. This is especially difficult for teams who have been together for long periods of time because of fear of jeopardizing friendships.

D. In reality, the better friend is the one who is willing to point out areas of weakness and then be willing to help you through it.

E. As politically incorrect as it may sound, the most effective and efficient means of maintaining high standards of performance on a team is peer pressure.

F. A team that avoids accountability:

–Creates resentment among team members who have different standards of performance.

Encourages mediocrity. No expectation no production.

–Misses deadlines and key delivery. Places an undue burden on the team leader as the sole source of discipline. The leader becomes the bad guy or the fall guy.

G. A team that holds one another accountable:

–Ensures that poor performers feel pressure to improve. Identifies potential problems quickly by questioning one another’s approaches without hesitation.

–Establishes respect among team members who are held to the same high standards.

Avoids excessive bureaucracy around performance management...avoids favoritism.

H. One of the most difficult challenges of a leader is to allow the leadership team to serve as the first and primary accountability mechanism.

Connection to Dysfunction 5: Inattention to Results

–If teammates are not being held accountable for their contributions, they will be more likely to turn their attention to their own needs, and to the advancement of themselves or their departments. An absence of accountability is an invitation to team members to shift their attention to areas other than collective results. The good of the whole.

Dysfunction 5: Inattention to Results

A. The ultimate dysfunction of a team is the tendency of members to care about something other than the collective goals of the group.

B. An unrelenting focus on specific objectives and clearly defined outcomes are

requirements for any team that judges itself on performance.

C. The results mentioned here are not just measured in financial terms but also is

determined by out-come based performance.

–Not just were we within budget but was our goals met.

D. A team that is not focused on results:

–Stagnates or fails to grow. Rarely defeats competitors. Loses achievement oriented employees.

–Encourages team members to focus on their own careers and individual goals. Is easily distracted.

E. A team that focuses on collective results: 

–Retains achievement oriented employees. Minimizes individualistic behavior. Enjoys success and suffers failure acutely.

–Benefits from individuals who subjugate their own goals/interests for the good of the team, the business, the church. Avoids distractions.

F. How does a team go about ensuring that its attention is focused on results? By making results clear, and rewarding only those behaviors and actions that contribute to those results.

G. The team leader must keep the team focused on results and model this diligence before them holding them to the same standard.

–Ultimately teamwork comes down to practicing a small set of principles over a long period of time embracing common sense with uncommon levels of discipline and persistence. Also, they must be bonded together by the Holy Spirit.

Fully Devoted - 3

Subject - Fully Devoted To Prayer

by Rick Welbourne

　

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV) 

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 

45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 

46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

– Changing the order in the verse we will look next week at the breaking of bread on Communion Sunday.

– Today we will look at how the early church fully devoted themselves to prayer.

– So that we’re all on the same page: Prayer is talking to God, waiting, then hearing Him talk back. We usually just do the first part butstruggle to do the last two.

- We hate to wait! How many of you have been to a waiting room? Isn’t it funny how you come on time and still have to wait? Not too funny. Have you ever been tempted to just get up and leave?

- Here’s the deal: prayer is a waiting room. If you aren’t willing to wait on God, you won’t encounter Him!

1. Because of the instructions given by Jesus we should be fully devoting ourselves to prayer and waiting for Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:49 (NKJV) 

49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry (wait) in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Acts 1:4-8 (NKJV) 

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to waitfor the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;

5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

–The 120 obeyed Jesus and went to Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Father. What did they do while they waited? Waiting room...Ten days a long time to wait.

Acts 1:14 (NIV) 

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

–They were constantly in prayer, they were praying without ceasing, they were praying to receive what God had promised to them...they were waiting.

–Well, Pastor Rick, that’s the problem, it was promised to them (120)! Really? I thought the promise of Holy Spirit baptism was for everyone.

Acts 2:38-39 (NIV) 

38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

–The 120 prayed and obeyed and all of them were baptized in Holy Spirit power.

Acts 2:1-5 (NIV) 

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 

2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

–They were all praying, they were all together, they all received a flame, they all were filled with Holy Spirit, they all spoke in tongues (praying in Holy Spirit).

Scott Wilson and John Bates - Clear the Stage: The Spirit didn’t come upon those in the upper room to make them happy and self-absorbed. He came to empower them to fulfill God’s bold calling to represent Him in every situation and in every corner of the earth. The disciples in the upper room were united in prayer and focused on God’s Word. That’s the fuel of the Spirit’s power. When we aren’t reading, studying, and responding to the Word of God, we have no fuel to burn.

–The new converts, 3120 now, were praying and all of them were praying to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

2. Because of the climate of persecution and threats we should be fully devoting ourselves to prayer for boldness.

–It is so amazing to me that the world was trying to shut the Christians up back then and they are still trying to shut us up now.

Acts 4:17-20 (NIV) 

17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.

20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." 

–God give me some Holy Spirit filled believers who just can’t help themselves...people who cannot help but to speak of what they have seen, heard, and experienced.

Acts 4:23-28 (NIV) 

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 

– You see, if you’re in the waiting room, it’s because you realize your need for whomever you’re waiting for. You’re in the waiting room because you need that job or you need that doctor or you need that assistance.

- We’re in the waiting room of prayer because we need God! We need His help!

- Maybe the reason some of us don’t pray is because we don’t realize our need for God.

–Notice their first instinct when they were threatened was to pray...they also acknowledged that God had created everything and He was more than able to take care of them.

–They also proclaimed in their prayer that the enemies of God could not do anymore than what He permitted...what his power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

–They prayed that God would supply all that they needed to be able to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ...I wonder how much prayer goes up like this now?

Acts 4:29-31 (NIV) 

29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

–Can you please pray for your pastors and other pastors that we will preach God’s Word with great boldness...with no fear?

–Can you please pray that God will stretch out His hand to heal and to perform miraculous signs and wonders in these last days?

–Can you please pray until Life Church is shaken and that everyone here is filled with Holy Spirit and they are speaking God’s Word with boldness? Talking about growth!!!

3. When we are fully devoted to prayer salvation comes to entire families.

– We can get so frustrated in the waiting room. All we see is what we see with our own eyes. We see no movement. We see nothing happening to us. What we don’t realize is that the doctor is working in the background. He’s not sitting on a lounge chair sipping sweet tea. He’s helping people! 

- When you pray, God is working in the background whether you see it or not! He’s working on people’s souls, He’s working on your body, and He’s working on your family.

Acts 10:1-2 &9 (NLT) 

1 In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment.

2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 

9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray...

–What is so amazing about this story and about so many stories we hear is that God was working on both ends of the situation.

–You have Cornelius hungering to know the way and the plan of salvation and what do we find him doing...He is praying.

–Then you have the apostle Peter who was waiting on lunch to be prepared and what was he doing...He was praying.

–We know he was Pentecostal because he was hungry and he fell asleep and dreamed about food...real spiritual guy.

–One of the beautiful truths that we learn from this story is that when people are praying God is working...why? Because He loves people...Jesus died for people.

–You know that it is God working because Peter is told to go with people that the Jews do not normally associate with...Gentiles. Peter first questions but then goes.

–What would you do if God asked you to step out of your comfort zone and share the gospel with someone who is a different color, someone homo-sexual, someone not like you? Would you do it? Peter did. Why? Because he was praying!

– In the waiting room, your intent is to hear the doctor’s voice. You might have a magazine in your hand. You might be scrolling through Facebook but the whole time your ear is inclined, listening for the doctor.

- Our intent in prayer should be to hear God’s voice! And when He speaks, we should act!

- Some of us have the doctor calling our name, "Rick Welborne, Rick Welborne, Rick Welborne…" and we are just sitting there, not responding!

- Have you prayed and waited so long just to not respond? When you hear His voice, get up and respond; whether it’s comfortable or not!

–Cornelius shares with Peter his story and shares how open he and his family are to what he has to say:

Acts 10:30-33 (NLT) 

30 Cornelius replied, "Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me.

31 He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God!

32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’

33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you."

–Talk about being set up by God...because Cornelius was praying...because Peter was praying, "Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you."

–Pastor Rick, do you believe witnessing can be as easy as praying and seeking God and for God to set you up? Absolutely!

–Peter begins to preach the simple gospel to them realizing God shows no favoritism: Jesus died on the cross, He was buried, and He rose from the dead. Forgiveness of sin.

–Because Peter was praying and because Cornelius was hungry and praying look what happens:

Acts 10:44-47 (NLT) 

44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.

45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.

46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked,

47 "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"

–When we devote ourselves to prayer God will cause divine set ups that will bring people to Christ.

–Story: Missions trip in Mexico. We had a day of ministry where we said we would be led by Holy Spirit to go and share where He wanted us to...we prayed.

–We drove from where we were staying a few hours on a narrow asphalt road in the middle of nowhere. Turned on a rough dirt road for about another hour.

–We came to a village and thought this was it...Holy Spirit said this is not the place.

–We traveled another hour and to another village (we are praying) and Holy Spirit says not here. The team is beginning to wonder if I have lost my mind.

–It is getting close to dark as we continue to drive on this dirt road and people are getting nervous but remember we prayed...We arrive at a village at the base of a mountain.

–Everyone is waiting in the streets when we pulled up...thru the interpreter I asked what were they waiting for? Someone ran thru our village and said good news is coming today

–We have been waiting for you...we set up the lights and equipment and one of our layman preached a simple salvation message and everyone responded.

–After praying with them I asked them if they wanted to be baptized in Holy Spirit fire? They all said yes! We prayed and I counted to three and said receive the Holy Spirit!

–Prayer erupted throughout the crowd...I asked the interpreter were they praying in Spanish and he said he could not hear any of them praying in their native tongue!

–They were all saved and all baptized in Holy Spirit! Why? Because we prayed!

Leadership - Will You Lead? 4

Subject - Leading Wherever You Are

by Rick Welbourne

I. Leading Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges

A. The most persistent barrier to leading like Jesus is a heart motivated by self interest.

Phil 2:1-4 (NIV)

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Quote: Blanchard and Hodges: "A heart motivated by self-interest looks at the world as a ‘give a little, take a lot’ proposition. People with hearts motivated by self-interest put their own agenda, safety, status, and gratification ahead of those affected by their thoughts and actions."

B. Another factor that needs to be considered is whether we are driven people or called people...

C. Are you a self- serving leader or a servant leader?

Quote: Blanchard and Hodges: Three distinctive patterns of behavior mark the difference between self-serving leaders and servant leaders: how you handle feedback, how you handle successor planning, and your perspective of who you think leads and who follows.

How do you handle feedback?

1. Self-serving leaders spend most of their time protecting or promoting the things

in which they have invested their self worth and security, such as their public image, their reputation, their competitive performance, their position, their possessions, or their personal fulfillment in their intimate relationships.

2. Whenever they sense a threat to the things they cherish, they are likely to react in a fearful, defensive way.

3. This is especially true when they receive negative feedback. They think that negative feedback means that people do not want them to lead anymore. That is their worst nightmare.

4. The biggest fear of self-serving leaders is not failure; it is the fear of losing their

power and position—the very things in which they have placed their self-worth and security.

5. Because servant leaders believe their position and influence are on loan to those whom they serve, they are more prone to see feedback as a gift rather than a threat.

6. Even when feedback may be hurtful or given in a negative way, a servant leader grounded in God’s unconditional love can get beyond initial negative emotions and seek to find any truth and value for improving their leadership.

7. Which of the following words best describes your usual reaction to negative feedback? Is it fear, anger, denial, sadness, curiosity, or gratitude?

8. It may take a while for some of us but I hope in the end that we are thankful for the feedback because, most of the time, there is a measure of truth to all criticism.

How do you plan for Successors?

1. One aspect of a job well done as a servant leader is how well we have prepared others to carry on after our season of leadership influence is complete.

–What we all hope to hear from the Lord :

Matt 25:21 (NKJV)

21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

2. Our leadership legacy is not just limited to what we have accomplished, but it includes what we leave behind in the hearts and minds of those with whom we had a chance to teach and work.

3. It is unlikely that anyone leading involved in the promotion and protection of self is going to spend much time training and developing their potential successor.

4. Just as avoiding honest feedback is a mark of an EGO (Edging God Out) driven leader, so is failure to develop someone to take your place.

5. During His time on earth, Jesus modeled sacrificial passion for ensuring that His followers were equipped to carry on the cause of the Kingdom.

6. Jesus lived His legacy in intimate relationship with those He empowered by His

words and example.

Quote: Leighton Ford in his book Transforming Leadership says:

"Long before modern managers, Jesus was busy preparing people for the future. He wasn’t aiming to pick a crown prince, but to create a successor generation. When the time came for Him to leave, He did not put in a crash program of leadership development...the curriculum had been taught for three years in a living classroom." 

7. A good way to gauge your progress in leading like Jesus is to ask yourself the following questions:

–How well am I doing in preparing others to take my place when the time comes?

–Do I consider them a threat or an investment in the future?

–Am I willing to share what I know and provide opportunities to learn and grow for those who will come after me? If not, why not?

8. A few moments of brutal honesty regarding your motives as a leader are worth years of self-deception.

9. Jesus modeled the heart of a true servant leader by investing most of His ministry time training and equipping the disciples for leadership. Near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus told His disciples:

John 15:15 (NKJV)

15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

10. Jesus also set a goal for His disciples that every leader should hear well and heed to:

John 14:12-13 (NKJV)

12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

11. We want those who come after us to do even greater exploits than we have!

Who leads and who follows?

1. The term ‘leader’ is only mentioned six times in the King James Version of the Bible, while the term servant is mentioned more than nine hundred times.

2. This fact highlights the third distinction between a self-serving leader and a servant leader: who leads and who follows?

3. Self-serving leaders think they should lead and others should follow.

4. Servant leaders, on the other hand, seek to respect the wishes of those who have entrusted them with a season of influence and responsibility.

5. Key - Throughout His life and leadership, Jesus affirmed that God is not looking for leaders but for servants who will let Him be the Leader and who will focus first on the Kingdom of God.

–When God came to Abraham, God had the plan and Abraham was instructed to carry it out according to God’s promise. God is on mission...He wants us to join Him.

–When God came to Moses, God provided leadership for this shy, retiring man.

–When God came to Mary, she surrendered to God’s will and undertook the role of a servant leader with her infant Son.

–When God came to Paul, God had a plan that this passionate man spend the rest of his life fulfilling thru leadership and witness to the Gentiles.

–When God was the leader and these faithful people were servants, His plan was effectively accomplished.

6. On the other hand, when we become the leader and try to make God the servant, things don’t work out.

Quote: Blanchard and Hodges: "If you want your life to be significant, then you have to recognize that it’s all about God, not about you. As the old Yiddish saying goes, ‘If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans’.

7. Jesus was pretty emphatic about who leads and who follows:

Matt 16:24-25 (NKJV)

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

–Jesus tells His disciples of His suffering and His eventual death - their response:

Mark 10:35-41 (NKJV) 

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask."

36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 

37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory."

38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"

39 They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;

40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared."

41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.

1. Jesus, the servant leader, lets His disciple learners know what is about to happen to Him!

–Servant leaders are transparent and always teaching...I will be betrayed, condemned to die, be delivered to the Gentiles, be mocked, scourged, and killed...3rd day I will rise.

2. James and John, selfish leader wanna-bees, have a desire to be in leadership.

–Their first problem is that they are not even listening to Jesus...only thinking of what is best for them...to sit on the right and left...did not hear of Jesus suffering.

3. Jesus, the servant leader, wants His followers to understand the cost.

–He asked James and John were they able to go thru what He was about to go thru...

Remember they were not listening so they had no clue...yes...thinking of themselves.

–Not every position or place of ministry is for just anyone...I love Jesus answer...it is for those for whom it is prepared."

–Don’t be hurt if the position or ministry you sign up for is not prepared for you...servant leaders submit to direction and wisdom...wanting position causes division.

–We do not become leaders to lord over people but to be servants...Peggy Icker.

Matthew 23:10-12 (NKJV) 

10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 

11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 

12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

4. Jesus, the servant leader, wants His followers to know that leadership is all about laying our lives down for Him and them.

Mark 10:42-45 (NKJV) 

42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

–Servant leaders motto: We did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give our lives a ransom for many.