Leadership - Part 2

Today's sermon is Leadership Part 2. I gave Part 1 about two weeks ago. So I want to go into and finish this series on leadership. We've been talking about the Melchizedek priesthood. We're talking about the destination for all those called of God is to not only be a king, but to be a priest. Kings and priests is what he actually says in many references, as I've talked in Book of Revelation many times. But we addressed leadership last time and asked the question, born, made, or both. God has laid out for us in His Word the destiny and potential for all of us in this room. And some may feel, I don't see myself as a leader. Others may say, I don't want to be a leader. And yet there may be some like Peter who says, sit down, I'll drive this train. And we found out he had to grow a little bit. But a real leader means you are willing to step up, step aside, or step down. There was a movie a few years ago, Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, about a true account of the time of Nelson Mandela and about the soccer team or football team that was playing at the time. And the movie was called Invictus. And Nelson Mandela's character actually said, as he was questioned about leadership, the day I am afraid to risk my future as a leader is the day I am no longer fit to lead. There are different kinds of leadership in this world today, but only one that's modeled for us. And that type is godly leadership. Some have referred to it as a Christ-like leadership. But you see, a Christ-like servant leadership is different than most people picture. A Christ-like servant leadership, since that's how he led, was by first being a servant. A Christ came to serve, not to be served. Which brings us to the question, do you like serving others? All of us have to answer that question. Because if we've been called to serve, we either have to learn to enjoy it, or it must come natural to us. And to many people, it comes natural. Many are, let's say, most in this room appear to enjoy serving, because I've seen it. I've experienced it, and it is evident. But it is also evidence of Christ-like of Christ in you. Because, naturally, we're going to take care of ourselves and think of others. Last. We're going to think about what's good for us first, not second or third. So let's go to an example, an Old Testament example, and then we'll finish the sermon today with a New Testament example. My father used to say, as he was not only my father, he was my boss for about seven or eight years at the company I worked for, and he used to say, lead, follow, or get out of the way. So are you a leader? Well, yes, you are. And I make that statement today because you are a religious leader. You may not be on TV. You may not be standing before a group of people, but you are a religious leader because you are a religious leader. But you are a religious leader because you are leading by the example that you live. And the example you live should come from here. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here in this room. There is a relationship, obviously, that people in this room have built with God and said, I want to do it God's way.

But that sounds strange to most of us. I'm a religious leader. Are you leading the people God has put in your life by your belief in God? Some of us have very small families. Others have large families. Some of us have a large sphere of people, maybe from work or the neighborhood. You are that leader. A leader of one, but a leader of many. Because people, they recognize what you do, how you live. You may not think as much about it, but they do. They notice it, especially in this world today. Because we don't act like everyone else. We do not conduct our lives like everyone else because of this and because of the gift of the Holy Spirit, as Maurice talked about earlier. So let's go to this story because I love this story because it is of a king who also led the religious leaders. This is a man that's going to have no problem being a king and a priest following the Melchizedek priesthood. His father was pseudo-religious, but he became dedicated to God and God's way of life. And he led by example, and he's that incredible example to us. So if you will go with me now to 2 Chronicles 19, I will be reading today from the New Living Translation. So if the words vary somewhat, you can hear what I'm saying but also read what your translation is telling you. But I found the New Living Translation puts it in a better story flow. 2 Chronicles 19 and verse 4, and we're talking about King Jehoshaphat. King Jehoshaphat, or as they would say, Jehoshaphat. Verse 4, Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord. He was king over all of Judah, but he didn't stop at Judah. He crossed Judah's line and went into Ephraim. He went into Israel. So what am I talking about? You're talking about a king who went from Miami to Jacksonville, Florida, and he had towns and villages over this whole area, quite a few miles, a lot of time. But he said, this area that I'm over, this fear I'm over, this land I'm over, these people I'm over, they need to know about God. They need to know to follow God. And I'm going to do what I can't. I'm going to do what I'm called to do. And, of course, we can see he was led by the Spirit. Otherwise, why would he do this? And so it's said that encouraging the people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges throughout the nation in all the fortified towns, and he said to them, always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people, but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case. Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes, which tells you what. Obviously, they had been doing this. He was having to clear this land because you had corrupt officials. He'd have his job cut out for him in Florida, wouldn't he? In the whole United States.

But he had a work to do. In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and clan leaders in Israel to serve as judges for cases involving the Lord's regulation and civil disputes. These were his instructions to them. You must always act in the fear of the Lord with faithfulness and with an undivided heart. Whenever a case comes to you from fellow citizens in an outlying town, whether a murder case or some other violation of God's law, commands, decrees, or regulations, you must warn them not to sin against the Lord so that he will not be angry with you and them. Do this and you will not be guilty. So he's covering this whole area saying, we need to clean up. Everything, I'm over. And he appointed people to do that because he couldn't do it all himself. But he was leading by example. And you know, he had to clean things up because he was the fourth king of Judah. He was the fourth king.

And his great grandfather was Rehoboam. And Rehoboam, you can read in other chapters and kings, Rehoboam had gotten so corrupt that he allowed, I think it's 1st Kings 16, it actually talks about what Jehoshaphat had to do. He had to go into these areas. That's why he went up and down all those cities, those provinces. He had cleared out because they had male prostitutes helping the people worship, helping the fertility of the women.

Sounds sick, doesn't it? But you remember how corrupt things got in the last 20 years of Solomon's life. And all the temples that were built and the altars that were built to worship the pagan gods. And it just continued and continued. And so Jehoshaphat says, God has stopped that! Someone has to lead when it comes to tough decisions. And sometimes people have to lead when they're not very tough. But you go against the grain of everything else.

I have a sermon coming in a couple weeks. It's actually entitled, This Country is a Mess. And we're going to look at some of the headlines from the papers. Some of the statistics, you want to see just how big of a mess this country really is. But at the time, Jehoshaphat, he was king. He could do something about this mess. And he was cleaning it up, setting an example. Couldn't have been great for everybody in the country that was used to all this other stuff. So he cleans the country up. He turns them back to God, gets them to rely on God, gets them to praise God, gets them to do all these things that they weren't doing before. He stirred them up, empowered them. And then we see an incredible example. Chapter 20. Chapter 20 in verse 1. After this, the armies, after he had done all his work, after this, the armies of the Moabites, the Ammonites, and some of the Mianites declared war on Jehoshaphat. Wait a minute, what's going on? Wait a minute, doesn't he have the nation going the right way? Wait a minute, there's problems? Yes. There's always going to be problems, but he's just showing we don't always have to handle those alone. Declared war on Jehoshaphat. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, a vast army of Eden is marching against you and beyond the Dead Sea. Verse 3, Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. Wait a minute. In 2 Chronicles 17, it actually tells that before he went to war, earlier in his career, he had 800,000 man army. Of course, that was before he went to war. And he came home with his tail between his legs and began to call on God as we see from the story. We all have to learn lessons, don't we? And it's never too late to learn a lesson, and it's never too late to turn back. As I was working at Mary's father's farm this week in a hot, came in and worked out a good part of the day, trying to get some stuff done for him around the... I was covered in sweat and just dirty and nasty from dirt and everything else, fire ants. Boy, I don't miss those things at all. And I found out one thing. Florida and Alabama is not the same because here we wear flip-flops. There you don't wear flip-flops because fire ants don't allow you to wear flip-flops. But I went in and it was so good at the end of the day, I went in and took a shower and got all this stuff, and it just felt so good to be cleansed. Doesn't it feel good when you come before God and ask Him to purge your sins and cleanse you? And you are a new person. And you start out that time. I mean, this is what Jehoshaphat did for the whole nation! But the trouble didn't stop because it was an opportunity to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk. You either believe in God, you either know He is sovereign, He is supreme, or He's not. Here you have this chance. Let's go back there now. Jehoshaphat was terrified by the news, begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin what? fasting. They're going to do something. So, from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord's help. They had their minds right. Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the temple of the Lord. Isn't that amazing? Who do you think built the new courtyard? It actually says, a new courtyard in the temple of the Lord. It was Jehoshaphat. Put it in perspective that, hey, we need a big courtyard for people to gather. When they come and want to worship God, or they want to come before Him.

It's a new courtyard at the temple of the Lord. He prayed. Here was the king coming up before everyone. Why didn't he just leave it to the priests? Where do I got priests? I got Levites. I got all this stuff. Why don't I leave it to them? No! He led by example. He was the king. He had a relationship with God. And he was responsible. How about you? Aren't you responsible for your family? When a prayer needs to be prayed, is it too much for you to pray? Joseph asked him before the community, and he prayed, O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are the ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty. No one can stand against you. O God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this temple to honor your name. They said, whenever we are faced with calamity, such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this temple where your name is honored. Put an example to us. You have a calamity?

We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us, and you will rescue us. And now, see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. The Mianites, the Mianites, Mount Seir. This was no small little army. This was a huge army. Three of them combined came against Jerusalem. When you have three enemies come against you, isn't it time that you, me, all the household of God, we take it to God. Every time. Even the small things. Is anything too big for the Lord? Is anything too small for the Lord? Of course not. Verse 10, and now we see what the armies of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt. So they went around them, and they did not destroy them. Did you remember the tale of Jacob and Joshua? He said, no, you go around them. They won't let you go through. It's all right. We'll go around them. Now see how they reward us, for they have come to throw us out of your land. Which you gave us as an inheritance. Oh Lord God, won't you stop them? He's passionate. He's laying this out to God, as hopefully we do lay things out to God in our lives. Sometimes with tears, sometimes with fear, and sometimes with a desperate call. But have you noticed something here? Here's the whole nation. Okay, and a lot of people are like today, God, I've got this trouble. I need you to get me out. And if you do that, I promise I will go to church every week. I will obey. I will do whatever. Just get me out of this God. I heard that before. Perhaps you did it before. But look at the example that's given to us. First they obeyed, then they prayed. First we obey, and then we pray. Incredible example. It says we are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help. Verse 13, as all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives and children, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jehazael, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, Benaiah, son of Yale, son of Mataniah, a Levite who was a descendant of, what did your book say? Asaph. You remember Asaph? Remember the story of Asaph? And the Psalms that he wrote, an incredible story that was him. Well, here, these are his descendants, a descendant of his, following in his footsteps. How about your kids? How about your grandkids? Will they follow in your footsteps? And will they know where those footsteps came from?

And so this Levite said, listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem, he had the whole nation, he had all of Judah and Jerusalem come into that city because they were about to be wiped out by this army of tens and tens, if not hundreds of thousands of boyars. Men, they all came in. Can you imagine standing before a million to two million people in one city? They all came together, the fathers, the mothers, the little children, standing there, listening to this leader to know what to do. How powerful is that?

And he said, listen, King Jehoshaphat, this is what the Lord says, do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours but God's. You know, if I heard that, I'd be going, God heard me. And most times I move to tears myself is when I have prayed and prayed for something and then all of a sudden God does it. And I realize, man. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeho, Jael. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions, stand still, and watch the Lord's victory. The same words that were heard and said by Moses, and that's why I like it, it's in yours, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Such powerful words as they now the sea, the Red Sea collapsed on that army of Egypt. Stand still and watch the Lord's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them, for the Lord is with you. King Jehoshaphat, bowed low with his face to the ground. Here is a king not afraid to tell people, not afraid to come down and bow down, and just know, know, brother. He had power on high that has come to him and said, I'll take care of it. Here, I want you to do something for me, though. I want you to take people, I want you to take the army out, out behind these incredible thick and tall walls, and I want you to meet that army, these armies, and you march right towards them.

Wow. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord. They fell down before God. They showed that respect. Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a loud shout. One of the translations is actually loud and high. They would hear this beautiful voice because you see, Kohath and the Levites, some of those were trained like Asaph, the musician, and all these men, they knew that God loved to hear that voice, that praising of him. Early the next morning, the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Decoah. You know what Decoah is? Nothing. There's no protection. There's no anything. You were going to walk. They had to walk out, and they were all exposed. This huge army. On the way, Jehoshaphat stopped and said, listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem, believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand for him. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed. In verse 21, after consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army. How much faith did that take? You had singers in front, not your greatest warriors. You had singers coming before this entire army, walking ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. And this is what they sang. Is what they sang?

Can you imagine those words sung by hundreds of men, walking out the battle? Moving, just hearing one man imagine hundreds, if not thousands of men, all singing this song. What must the army, other army, think they had spies? They're going, we got a bunch of fruitcakes coming. They're singing. They're going to be wiped out. They don't even have their weapons with them. How pathetic! They're walking! They don't even have horses! They don't have anything to fight with! This is going to be a wonderful slaughter. At that very moment, they began to sing and give praise. The Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies, Muhnites from Mount Seir, and killed every one of them. Three armies coming together, and two just turn all one and wipe it out before they've even reached their enemy. Judah!

And after they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. These were two nations. They border each other. They were from two brothers. They had come together. They weren't just coming here. They had already worked together and had conquered other places. But here, God caused the state of mind that they even lost who they were and who they were fighting. And they just turned against each other. Mad! Crazy!

So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped. Hundreds of thousands of men and dead bodies and booty.

King Jehoshaphatin, verse 25, and as men went out to gather the plunder, they found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all. On the fourth day, they gathered in the Valley of Blessings, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord. It is still called the Valley of Blessings today. Then all the men returned to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat, leading them over joy that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies. They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, liles, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the temple of the Lord. Why? Because they wanted to say, thank you, God. They came to His temple. They came to His presence. When all the surrounding kingdoms heard of the Lord Himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. So Jehoshaphat's kingdom was at peace, for His God had given Him rest on every side. His God. Do you want rest? Do you want peace? Don't forget the Prince of Peace. Don't forget the Great I Am. Don't forget the Sovereign. That is an inspiring story to me. It's a great example of faith, wisdom, and trust. So let's wrap this up today. I'd like to go to two other examples I'll read from the New King James Version. I'd like you to go with me to Matthew 20. Matthew 20. Here is an example that Christ is teaching His disciples. Can't say they really got it really clear. Still working. Still a work in progress at this time on aren't we all? Okay. Matthew 20 and verse 20. I said, then the mother of Zebedee sons came to Him, Jesus Christ, with her sons there, with her, kneeling down and asking something from Him. So she's showing the proper posture. You know? She's like, oh, I know who you are. Besides, I want to talk to you, Christ. I want to talk to you, my nephew. I've known you since you were a baby. I want to talk to you about your two first cousins here, James and John. And this incredible kingdom you're going to install, because I know you are. I'm a follower of yours. And he said to her, in Solomon, what do you wish? And she said to him, grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right hand and the other on your left in your kingdom. But Jesus answered and said to her, you do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they, who? James and John. The two disciples were standing there, and they, yes! He says we are able, but knowing they were called the sons of thunder? Yes! And he said to them, you will indeed drink my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. But to sit on my right hand and to sit on my left is not mine to give, but is for those whom it is prepared for by my Father. And when the ten heard it, you know those other ten disciples? They were moved with indignation against the two brothers. Man, you're, look at these guys! They're in his inner circle anywhere. He takes them when he healed this. He took them up on the transfiguration. He did all this. Now they want to sit on the right and the left, and they got mama to do it! They're mama's boys!

Because they wanted that. They wish their mama had come there. That's the deal. But Jesus called them to himself. Who? He called all of them, all of his disciples. He said, you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. Let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. Jesus, the son of man, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. One other story, the same story, or a little different, actually Luke covers it, and I don't feel like it is the same story. I feel like this showed up because this showed up kind of late in the Gospels. I like you turn to Luke 22. Luke 22. Luke 22 verse 24. But there was also rivalry among them, talking about the disciples, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. A little different than the other because...

And he who governs as he who serves. Does anybody run for political office today so that they can serve? They all say it, but they don't do it. You ever see companies? Maybe you work for a company? You ever see the head guy ever come down here? Let me load the trucks with you. I don't know. You got dirt on me, right? They want to be served. That's what leadership... Christ said, no, it's not! For who? Verse 27. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as one who serves. Setting that example. Servant leadership. But you are those who have continued with me in my trials, and I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as my father bestowed one upon me. That you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on the thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Brethren, we're part of that. We're training for that Melchizedek priesthood. Okay, this is what we're doing here. One of the things for us to have that kingdom bestowed upon us and to have rulership is we must rule his way. We can't say, well, God, yeah, but tomorrow I'm going to do it my way. No, he wants us to do it his way. Like the disciples, we have also been called, called out, sanctified, set apart for service. We're serving for him and set apart by the gift of the Holy Spirit. As he quoted earlier, Romans 8 verse 14 says, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. Sons and daughters of God lead, lead by our lives, lead like Christ. To be a godly leader, we must, what, be led ourselves by God, by the true leader. And Jesus Christ is called, what? The Lord of lords. Who's the lords? We will be the lords when his kingdom is here. He is called the King of kings. What kings? We are that kingdom. It is our destiny. It is the promise. God desires great leaders for a great priesthood in a great kingdom that is up ahead. Remember what's said? Believe in the Lord. Believe in the Lord your God and stand firm. His mercy never fails and he will be there. Have a wonderful rest of the day and look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow. That wonderful feast of Pentecost.