Your Personal Leadership, Part 2

Well, again, happy Sabbath! Last time that I had an opportunity to speak with you, we discussed the importance of personal leadership. And as I mentioned last time, one of the challenges that the human race has is that instead of looking within ourselves and developing personal leadership, if we don't do that, we tend to look outside of ourselves. We end up following politicians who are using us and manipulating us. We end up being used and abused by our culture because we're looking outward for leadership instead of realizing that it all begins inside of us, that we first must become the change we wish to see in the world, that we wish to see in others. Indeed, there's a need for external leaders, but it all begins with us first taking a good look within our own hearts and minds and developing a quality called personal leadership. I'll define it once again. Personal leadership is the ability to visualize a goal. You have vision. You look down and you say, this is important to me. This is what my life is about. It might be the Kingdom of God. I hope it is. It may also be a career path that you want to take, especially if you're young enough and you're thinking about your life. It may be the kind of person that you want to have as a life partner, either a husband or a wife. It may be something that's very important to you, something that expands your talents and your natural gifts or abilities. And you set that as a goal. So, personal leadership is the ability to visualize that goal, to say, I want it. I can smell it, taste it, see it, hear it, touch it. It's something that's really valuable and important to me. And part of that process is to embrace the values of that goal. Anything in this world has laws, it has confines, it has values. And if we don't embrace the values that it's going to take to get to that goal, then we'll end up somewhere else. We'll get off the path. We'll get off the journey. So, everything that's worth having in this world, you have to follow certain values. When I wanted to get a college degree, the values were that I had to apply to a college. Right? And then when I was accepted, I had to actually go to school. And I had to study enough to pass the classes. Those are the values of going to college. If you think you're too smart and you don't need to accept those values, then you end up getting bounced out or flunking out or whatever. Whatever you want to embrace in life is going to entail values that are necessary to reach that goal, that vision. And then another definition, part of that definition, was to maintain a positive perspective. In other words, you have to have a can-do approach to achieve anything in life where you'll always have obstacles. If there aren't true obstacles, you'll want that obstacles. You'll create your own obstacles. If you don't have a positive perspective. Another part of that definition, a self-disciplined environment. In order for us to have personal leadership, we have to be willing and able to say no to ourselves.

If we want that goal and we visualize that goal and we have a burning desire to achieve that goal and we understand what the values are, and you begin to do or think in some way that is contrary to those values, self-discipline is when you say, no, I'm not going to do that. No, I'm not going to think that. No, I'm not going to say that. So it's self-discipline. And then eventually, if we put those ingredients together, there's an excellent opportunity that our goals certainly will be achieved.

But that's what self or personal leadership is all about. It's choice. It's seizing control of our lives. Because the truth is that a decision is going to be made in every area of our life. Either we make that decision or time and chance will make that decision for us.

And let me tell you something, brethren. Time and chance does not care about your dreams. Time and chance is a harsh taskmaster, and it will decide for us what we are unwilling to decide for ourselves. So isn't it better that we make that decision than allow random chance and just the process of time to make that decision for us? Whether it's our health or whatever it is going on in our lives, we either make choices or time and chance will make those choices for us. And in many cases, we will not like the outcome or the results of time and chance.

Last time, we also discussed different types of thinking perspectives, and that was borrowed from behavioral science. There are two primary types. One is called creative or proactive thinking. We talked about how only about 20% of the general population has that naturally or natively. And then there's something called reactive thinking, and we defined the difference of the two. And reactive thinkers are about 80% of the general population. We examined where reactive thinking naturally comes from.

It naturally comes from a spiritual source called in Scriptures the prince of the power of the air. And it emanates an attitude of selfishness, an attitude that's argumentive, an attitude that's close-minded, an attitude that has little self-esteem but spends a lot of energy trying to hide that fact, trying to cover up the fact that they don't really think very highly of themselves. Sometimes they'll overcompensate that.

They'll be a loud person. They'll be a know-it-all. They'll actually do things to try to counterbalance that feeling inside that they have little worth. And they will overcompensate in their personality and do certain things and say certain things and be a certain way in order to cover up the negativity and the shallowness they feel about themselves. We looked at a classic example of creative thinking versus reactive thinking in Numbers 13. I'm sure you'll remember the story of the twelve spies that were sent into the Promised Land. And how they all saw the same thing.

And they had the same experiences, but yes, they perceived whether they could get into the Promised Land differently because of the kind of thinking. They had their perceptions. And if you didn't hear that sermon on June 6th, I encourage you to do so because this will make a lot more sense. What I'm about to say is intended to naturally follow that sermon. So if there's some things about this sermon you don't get or puzzle pieces don't seem to come together, I encourage you to listen to that message on June 6th. Reactive thinking. There are three steps to reactive thinking. And he's come natural. We don't even have to work at these steps.

Here's step number one, reactive thinking. Say the first thing that comes into your head. Isn't that just as we are as human beings? The first thing, don't soften it. Don't filter it. Don't stop it. Just say the first thing that comes into your head. Even if you make a fool of yourself, say the first thing that comes to your head. That's step one of reactive thinking.

Number two, portray yourself as a victim. Make sure that you paint yourself in this situation as just an innocent victim. Victim of circumstances. And then number three, step number three, is ignore the actual facts. Just jump on one minor point to support your opinion and ignore all the other information you're given. So if someone gives you ten reasons why you're wrong and one of the ten is shaky, that you can debate and argue about. Make sure you debate and argue about that one point and ignore the other nine.

These are the three steps to reactive thinking that is so natural for all of us. It was natural for the ten spies. That's exactly what they did. They came back and they hadn't thought through this whole thing. And their reaction was automatically the first thing that came into their heads, and that was negative. They portrayed themselves as victims. We're like grasshoppers in our own sight. Remember that? We're just these little puny things and they're so big.

They're so gargantuan. We don't have a chance. And then they would jump on whatever they could. They even silenced Caleb, who tried to change the tide of everyone's thinking. And they jumped on the minor points to support their opinion. They ignored everything that Caleb said. Caleb said, well, what about God being in this picture?

The great God who brought us through the Red Sea. The great God who gave us man. We have food every day. The great God who gave us water when we need. What about this?

Oh, I'll ignore that. And they jumped on their minor points, exaggerated though they were, to try to overwhelm everyone else's thinking. Well, the lesson that we can learn from the spies is profound. We all perceive daily events through a filter of old beliefs and past experiences. However, these mental filters often distort what is really going on. The facts we choose to focus on may not really be all that important. It may just reinforce what we already believe. So we are naturally looking to reinforce what we already believe. And information that we receive that is contrary to what we already believe, we tend to filter out. That's good if the information or the new information is negative, is unbiblical, is sin. But it's not so good if it's factual, if it's something that can help us to make a good decision and can help us to have more balance in our lives. We may miss the big picture or real lesson of an experience because we're trying to reinforce what we already believe through a distorted mental filter. And every segment of our world, this is our world today. Scientists do this all the time. Business owners do this all the time. Do you know that people who study the Bible do this too? People who've dedicated their lives to studying theology do this all the time? It's called proof texting. Proof texting is where you first come to a conclusion and then you begin looking for Scriptures to support what you already believe. Instead of opening the book and saying, I'm going to start fresh and let's see what the book tells me and put a Scripture here together with a Scripture here. together with a Scripture here together with a Scripture here to see what God is teaching me. Proof texting is where you say, I already accept and believe this. So therefore, now I'm going to look for with this Scripture one more. Pass that one up. Start looking for Scriptures to prove what you already believe. And that's called proof texting, commonly done in churches. The last time we focused on reactive thinking, which again is about 80% of the general population. Now let's look at some creative or proactive thinking. We'll look at an example of what Jesus Christ said. Like Moses, Jesus also struggled to teach his disciples to abandon a reactive slave mentality, to reject constantly making victims of themselves as they were in Egypt, as obviously the Israelites acted in Egypt, and then into a sentence, spiritual sentence. We were all dead and slaves. We've been slaves to the prince and power of the air. Until Jesus Christ called us out of this world and we repented, and we were baptized, and we received the Holy Spirit. We were in slavery to Satan the devil. We were jerked around by him. We were manipulated by him. Our thoughts were his thoughts. Our ways were his ways. Our instincts were his instincts. And we were spiritual slaves to Satan. At a greater level than even Moses, Jesus Christ wanted his followers to see what they could achieve. Christ wanted to teach his followers how to be creative thinkers so they could be great servant leaders, so they could begin to preach the gospel message, so that they could finish in their lifetimes the mission God had for them as individuals.

So he offers an alternative to proactive thinking. Let's turn to Matthew 7 and verse 7 and see what that is. It's also three steps, but it's not, say, the first thing comes into your head. It's not portray yourself as a victim. It's not to ignore the actual facts and jump on one minor point to support your opinion. It's this. Matthew 7 and verse 7.

Jesus teaching the disciples said, Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. Let's take a look at this in a little more detail. He says, first, ask. That means go to God. So the first thing a creative thinker wants to do when they're confronted with a problem, when they're confronted with a serious issue, is rather than just arguing, rather than just digging themselves in, they say, I'm going to take some time here and I'm going to go and talk to God about it. And I'm going to ask His advice and I'm going to ask Him through the power of the Holy Spirit to help me to see the situation as it really is. So the first thing Jesus says, rather than say the first thing that comes into your head, rather than pop off, is ask. So, if you're going to go to God and it will be given, seek, He says explore options. Moral issues usually are black and white. Moral issues are right or wrong. You either commit adultery or you don't commit adultery, either physically or spiritually. But most issues in life that we face are not moral issues. Most issues we face in life are general life problems. You're 21 and you say, let's see, should I major in archaeology or should I major in some other science? There's no right or wrong there. You can major in one or the other or decide to major in something totally different. The point that I'm trying to bring across here is the second thing that a person with proactive thinking does is they look at the options. There's not always just one way to do something. Most of the time in life, again, we're not talking about moral issues. We're talking about daily decisions, financial issues. We're talking about work issues. We're talking about things that we're confronted with on a daily basis. Most things, if we go to God and we think about it, there are options. There's not just one answer. Oftentimes there's two or three or four answers that can all be done and can all work to varying degrees. So the second thing one does is seek, meaning they explore options. They just don't look at the world as everything is black and white and there's only one wrong answer for everything and there's only one right answer for everything. That simply is not true when you get outside of morality, of the moral realm. And you will find knock crisis. This is the third step. Knocking means you're doing something. You're taking action. You're not just sitting back and waiting for God to do it all. You're doing your part. Knocking denotes that you are making an effort, that you are making an action. I can't tell you the number of people that I've known in my lifetime who would tell me things like, Yeah, well, I really prayed about getting a job. And I said, well, have you created a resume? Huh? I really prayed about getting a good job. Have you sent your resume in to anybody? Huh? Well, I really prayed about a good job. Well, that's fine. Prayer is wonderful. You went to God. That's good. I'm not sure that you're seeking too many options, but you're certainly not knocking. You're not doing your part. You're not doing what you need to do.

Verse 8, for everyone who asks, receives, and seeks, finds, that's finds options, takes a look open-mindedly and finds ways to get things done. And to him who knocks, it will be open. In other words, opportunities, big things happen for those who make an effort.

And look at opportunities and step out and take advantage of those opportunities. Verse 9, for what man is there among you if his son asks for bread will give him a stone? Think about it. Even from a human level, what kind of degenerate father, if his son said, Dad, I'm hungry, well, here's a road pebble. Chew in this for a while. He wouldn't do that. It's not very loving. That's not very caring as a parent. Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Dad, could I have a little bit of the fish you're eating? Well, no, but you can chew in this bowl, constrictor. What kind of a father would do that? Of course not. Jesus says, if you then, at a human level, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him?

And again, Jesus, it's not that Jesus is trying to water down the need to also seek and knock, but it all starts, the first step, remember, was ask. It's go to God. Will your heavenly Father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him? Therefore, whatever you want men to do, do you do also unto them? Jesus wants to remind them of the importance of treating other people the way that they should be treated. That is, with kindness, with what we would call the fruits of the Spirit. For this is the law and the prophet.

So again, the three steps to creative thinking are ask God for guidance. We don't always have to say the first thing that comes to our head. Oftentimes, in a discussion with a person, I will say, let me think about that, and I'll get back to you. It's a common phrase that I use because I want some time to think about it. Rather than just saying the first thing that comes into my head or the first instinct that I may have, we seek answers.

Number two, seek answers by exploring options. Number three, knock. That is, to take action to do your part. Jesus wasn't talking about just something that's possible in God's kingdom or the world tomorrow. He's talking about the here and now. He was talking about to his disciples then. He was telling them that as leaders they could tap into a special power available to them from another dimension.

And that's the key, is to not lose sight of the power of God's Holy Spirit. To use God's Holy Spirit, again, that's personal leadership. That's internal. God's Holy Spirit is inside of us. That's a tool that God gives us to learn to be creative thinkers and to change our perspectives, to change our minds. At this point in time with the disciples, they had limited thinking because they perceived daily events and all experiences through the filter of old beliefs and past experiences. And we'll see an example of that in a minute when they begin to argue about which one of them is the greatest.

What were they doing? They were looking at the role of a Christian through the prism of the Roman Empire, because that's their experiences. That's their ideas. That's the world they grew up in. But doing that is like putting new wine in old wineskins. That new wine is still bubbling a little bit, and that wine skin is going to burst wide open. It's going to be ruined, and all that new wine is going to run right out of that wine skin.

Jesus was saying to them, within you resides much more than being mere fishermen and lowly subjects of the mighty Roman Empire. You are being prepared to change the world. And my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ here in Cleveland, Ohio, I want you to understand and please appreciate the fact that you are not just mere office workers and piano tuners and construction workers and widows, that you are being prepared to change the world. And how are you being prepared to change the world?

You're changing yourself from the inside. You're taking that first step. You're beginning to understand that all of us need to be more creative thinkers, and we need to be less reactive thinkers. We understand that first, we must become the change that we want to see in the world, the change that we wish to see in others.

And a few special words for those of you who are young adults in our audience today. Because of your association with God's truth, you too have the opportunity to be extraordinary, not just ordinary in this physical life, but extraordinary, and to do something very special with your life. Just understanding the beauty and the love behind God's law will help you to have healthier personal relationships with your future spouse. It will help you to get the promotions in your jobs, because you'll be a hard worker, and you won't steal, and you won't get into the gossip game at work, and you won't get into the groups and the ideas of this world.

You will stand out. You will be refreshing to an employer. I have to tell you that part of what I do in my job is pre-employment testing, and tests look for reactive thinkers, because I've got news for you, you're not being hired.

The pre-employment tests look for people that have reactive thinking, and unless no one else is, unless everybody else on earth died that night, the chance of you getting that job is probably slim and not.

So employers understand the importance of having people on their team who are can-do, who are team players, who have leadership capabilities, who are open-minded, who are teachable, when a new piece of software is put thrown in front of them, they want to learn it!

They want people that when new things come down their path, they say to themselves, well, this is going to be a challenge, this is going to be hard, but I'm going to tackle this, because I've tackled a lot of difficult things in my life, and eventually I've always come out on top. It's going to be hard, but I'm going to do it, because with Jesus Christ living his life in me through the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul would say, as he does in Philippians, I can do all things through Christ.

And that's the attitude and the perspective that we need to have in our lives. So if you're a young person, you had your whole life set before you, and I have to tell you, because I've, you know, coming what one might say is the end of my career, but I can tell you this, that this is an incredible land of opportunity. There's never been a greater opportunity on earth than for you to have been born in the United States.

It truly is a land of opportunity. You can be whatever you choose to be, and don't buy into any lies that you cannot be happy or successful because of your skin color, or because of your gender, or because your parents were poor, or because you went to this college and didn't go to some Ivy League school. Don't believe those lies!

You can achieve anything you want to achieve. This is an incredible nation of opportunities. And I encourage you to realize that God is calling you to be leaders today and leaders tomorrow in His kingdom. What lies within you as a young person is more than you can see or even realize at this point in your life. You have a pearl of great pride, spiritually speaking. You have the opportunity to grab the golden ring and to have an abundant and successful personal life and physical life in this world.

And then they'll be able to live for all eternity. You too can change the world. But to become a leader requires you, even at a young age, to develop into becoming a creative thinker and to begin rejecting the tendencies, the natural inclination to be a reactive thinker. Let's look at a few more examples. Exodus 14, verse 10. If you'll turn here with me.

Before the foreigners, later on, upset the nation of Israel regarding going into the Promised Land, when the spies came back, we'll see an earlier example where they were continuously reactive thinkers. Exodus 14, verse 10. And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes. So they're pinned. They've lived left Egypt. They're pinned. And before them, they have two choices. Remember those options I talked about? One is Pharaoh's army that's heading directly at them and is only going to be held back by pillars of fire or cross the Red Sea.

And it obviously has pretty deep water in it. So this is where we're at. And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes. And behold, the Egyptians marched after them and they were very afraid. So far, that's acceptable.

I would be afraid too in that situation. And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. And they said to Moses, Because, here it starts again, because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you... notice how they personalize it... why have you so dealt with us to bring us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt?

One of the common human refrains told you so. Didn't I tell you that would happen? Is this the word that we told you in Egypt? Saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians, for it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians, that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.

For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see no more forever.

Powerful statement by Moses, but you know God is actually going to correct Moses. The eternal toad Moses is not to expect God to do everything as it was their responsibility to do what? They've gone to God, they've looked at the options, what do they have to do? They have to knock. They have to do action, don't they? They have to do something.

So Moses tells them, Stand still, see the salvation of God, He's going to do it for you. Verse 14, And the Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. And the Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.

That's that third point. You see, they did the right things, and that Moses knew to ask God, he knew to seek God's intervention on behalf of Israel, but he missed a part. And his part was, Take action. God reminded them to not. Take action. In other words, don't just sit around here waiting for me to do everything for you.

I get it. I hear your request. I've given you options. I'm giving you a way out. Now go for it. Do it. By the way, this is just a beautiful lesson of the importance of both faith and works. Faith and works are two sides of the same coin. If they would have had the faith that many evangelical preachers have today, you know what they would have been? Two million dead corpses onto the seaside. But they had more than just faith. They moved. They worked. They went forward. And they put one leg in front of the other, and they walked across the Red Sea. So yes, they had faith, but that faith was also combined with doing something.

It was also combined with their behavior. And that's an important lesson for people who want to argue about what they call works versus faith. Again, they're two sides of the same coin. I want you to notice the reactive thinking of the typical Israelite and the creative thinking of Moses.

He did understand there was a problem. He had faith. He said, God's going to intervene here. Stand still. Watch God do his thing. You know, we have to give Moses credit for that. But look at the people. They had little faith. They felt they had no control over any of their circumstances. They blame others. They blame Moses. They blame God. They resist the change offered by freedom. They want to go back. They don't like freedom. And they obviously lack self-esteem or a sense of self-worth. In contrast, Moses is can-do oriented. He feels they're in control of the situation. He's confident. How could he be so different than the people?

Well, Moses had worked hard to build a relationship with God. He knew that God brought them out of Egypt by numerous miracles. God wasn't about to let them die now. He knew that God always keeps his promises. And God had promised to take them to the promised land. And Moses took him up on that promise. And he believed it.

This example that we've seen in Exodus 14 actually helps reveal a key to understanding our life purpose, to understanding creative thinking. And it's this. When you understand your life has a purpose and that everything that happens to you, either good or bad, painful or joyful, that everything that happens to you is part of a plan, then it gives your life added meaning. It gives your life value. Albert Einstein once said that God doesn't play dice. Your life is not an accident. Now, how we may have gotten here may be the result of an accident. My parents were separated, and they came together for a short period of time, and I was conceived.

So I'm frankly probably here by accident. Not that that bothers me one bit. How I got here, I really don't care. But my point is, is we may think that we're here by accident. But God has a plan. He has an individual plan in your life that he's working out. He has a mission for you, and your mission is different than the mission of that person sitting next to you. And once you understand that and you realize, yes, there's going to be challenges. I mean, I had terrible health diagnoses. My wife's had terrible health diagnoses. Life isn't a better process. There are challenges. There are problems. There are issues that come up.

But you're able to deal with them in a much more positive way if you understand that God has a plan and that you are part of that plan. That you have a mission on this earth, and God is intimately involved in helping you to fulfill that mission. Turn with me, if you would, Luke 22 and verse 24. Let's explore a New Testament example of reactive and creative thinking. This is Luke's account. And the interesting thing about this discussion is that it occurs right after the Passover ceremony in 31 A.D. Right after the powerful symbols of bread and wine. Right after Jesus teaching them humility by washing their feet. This is the discussion that ensues. Luke 22 and verse 24.

They want to be recognized. They want to live in big homes. Now, Blue Beach. They want all of these things that people seek. They want to be the greatest. They want to be the best. They want to be idolized. This is from the New Century version. The apostles also began to argue about which one of them was the most important. And I have to tell you, I mean, I'm a minister, but I have to tell you in all fairness that this hasn't changed in 2,000 years. Four and a half years ago, I know a group of hirelings who, because they wanted to be most important, were willing to literally split up hundreds of families from worshipping together as families and started their own church. Because they wanted to be most important. So things haven't changed in 2,000 years. This is still a very valid discussion here.

Verse 25, and he said to them, this is speaking of Christ, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. The friends, I love the people. Isn't that what our politicians tell us? As soon as they're elected, tomorrow there will be sunshine. There will be a chicken in every pot. There will be Mercedes-Benz in every driveway. There will be no unemployment. Life will be grand. Everything will be paid for.

We'll have no problems, no worries, no debts. All we have to do is elect them because they're for the people. Yeah, sure. But that's the kind of world we live in today. Jesus calls it the Gentile system.

Verse 26, But not so among you, on the contrary, who is he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, traditional Jewish household, the youngest kid got all the stuff dumped on him, on him or her. All of the errands, all of the grunt work was dumped on to the youngest because it was a hierarchy. Family was hierarchical. Dad, mom, oldest, son, if there was a son, da-da-da-da-da-da. And the youngest, the one in the bottom, got all the stuff that no one else wanted to do dumped on them.

He says, For who is greater among you? Let him be as the younger, and he who governs, as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? It is not he who sits at the table. When you go into a restaurant and someone's serving you food, aren't you kind of in a superior position? You're sitting there at the table, you're the one going to pay for the meal, and usually they're running back and forth and they're bringing you coffee and food.

That is the way it normally is in the world. Jesus turns this upside down. He says, Yet I am among you as one who serves. 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 thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus is saying to them, Stop focusing. Now, have some vision. Look at what is planned for you.

You're going to be on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel, considering that fact. How shallow, how stupid is it for you to argue at Bicker over which one of you is most important today? That's nothing. That's nothingness. That's reactive thinking. That's not the kind of thinking that will get us into the kingdom of God, His servants and His priests. So continuing, He says that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus is telling them that everything they were ever taught about greatness and leadership in this world is wrong. Jesus says, I'm going to put that shovel in there and I'm going to turn the world upside down, beginning with you, beginning with my church. It's not about being number one. It's not about gaining celebrity or great wealth. It's about service because that will be the true definition of leadership for all eternity when God's kingdom is established on earth. Greatness will equal service. Greatness will not equal a title, how much money you made, celebrity.

It will equal service. So start to prepare now, Jesus is telling them, by having vision and looking at the opportunities that God has in store for you. Look down the road. They'll become obsessed with you and now and whether you're important or not. In this world, greatness is defined by what you acquire. We have a saying in our world, he who dies with the most toys wins. Have you ever heard that statement?

That's what they say. In this world, greatness is defined by what you acquire. In the kingdom of God, greatness will be defined for eternity by how much you serve, not by what you acquire. Verse 25, Jesus said to them, this is from the New Century version, Jesus said to them, the kings of the non-Jewish people rule over them and those who have authority over others like to be called the friends of the people. But you should not be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest and the leader should be like the servant. Who is more important? The one sitting at the table or the one serving?

You think the one at the table is more important, but I am like a servant among you. So notice again the reactive thinking of the disciples, even after sharing the Passover together, even after having their feet washed as an example by the Prince of Peace. The disciples are still using reactive thinking. They're unsure of themselves. You don't argue about how important you are if you're confident. You only argue about how important you are if you lack confidence, if you are afraid.

That's the only reason afraid where you fit in or how other people perceive you. That's the only reason you would even engage in that kind of a discussion. They were unsure of themselves envious of each other. They were poor listeners. They mistook leadership as having authority like the Gentiles. But Jesus responded with creative or proactive thinking. He patiently taught and encouraged them to continue on with a can-do attitude. He told them about the responsibility that comes with service.

He redefined what greatness is in their hearts and in their minds. He inspired them and gave them a sense of their own destiny. Well, brethren, leaders are made. They're not born. There's no leadership gene. People aren't just naturally born with the ability to lead. Leaders are made, and they're made through trial and error. They're made through experience. They're made through opportunities.

They're made because they're willing to try different things and new things. They're willing to step out beyond their comfort zone and try new things.

Leaders are made. They're not born. And the key to developing personal leadership is to become a creative thinker. That's why I've emphasized this so much through two sermons. This means to be open to change. To mean a can-do-oriented personality. It means to be a good listener. The old saying, God gave us two ears and one mouth because we should listen twice as much as we speak. Are we doing that?

Reactive listeners reverse that. They're usually speaking twice as much as they are thinking. So, brethren, you might say to yourself, well, Mr. Thomas, okay, I acknowledge that I might be one of the 80% of the general public. I'm not an 80% of the general population who is naturally a reactive thinker. I tend to speak up too quickly. I don't tend to speak things through.

Usually I say the first thing that comes into my head. I tend to be argumentative. I sometimes can be a difficult person to get along with because I just know everything. So, okay, Mr. Thomas, I admit that. So now what? Even if we're naturally reactive thinkers, even if we're wired by our DNA or our personality or maybe growing up in an environment that pushed us in that direction, we have been offered help.

We do have help. And that help comes from the power of the Holy Spirit. Let's see what James instructs you. James chapter 3 and verse 13. Because it's something that comes from above that can reside in us, that can help us to become more creative thinkers. But we have to go to God. We have to look at the options and say, I can remain the way I am and maybe that's not a good thing.

Or I can change. And then we can knock. That means to do our part. Not just pray about it, not just think about how nice it would be if we were better people. How nice it would be if we overcame this issue and this issue, but began to take the action to do something about it. That means knock that it literally can change our life. Let's see what James instructed. James chapter 3 and verse 13.

Who was wise in understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom, this human wisdom, what he's describing here, is not the send from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. Of course, we know that it comes from the prince of the power of the air influenced by his spiritual Wi-Fi network, in which all of us are automatically attached and connected to his Wi-Fi network.

It's human. It's sensual. It's of the flesh. And that's not good. Let's continue here. Verse 16. From where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure because it comes from God. Purely, the gift of the Holy Spirit, is a gift from God. And it reflects to us a purity because it's something that comes directly as a gift from the Creator. Then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Or, I'll mention verse 18, the new international version, peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. Well, we just took a look at the disciples in the book of Luke in chapter 22 about the reactive thinking. And right after the Passover, right after the food washing, they engage in this conversation about which one of them is greatest, which one of them is most important.

Did eventually the disciples get the point? They had a great teacher, they had a great mentor, Jesus Christ Himself. Did they get that message? Did they have a breakthrough? Did they understand the message about creative thinking? After that period of time was the day of Pentecost, when they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and they began to actively, aggressively preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. Well, time came, as you'll turn to Acts chapter 5, we'll look at this event together.

Time came when they were actively preaching the gospel, and this caused the high priest and the Sadducees to become angry, and they were put into a common prison by orders of the high priest. But an angel of God came by night, the angel opened the doors of the prison as they walked out, the angel told them, Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.

So miraculously, the prison door opens, they walk out, and the angel says, Go back and do what you were doing. Go back and preach the good news of the kingdom of God, and tell people that Jesus was the expected Christ, the Messiah that we've been looking for. Now we'll pick it up here in Acts chapter 5, verse 21. And when they heard this, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught.

When they heard this, it means when they heard the statement from the angel telling them what they do, they entered the temple early in the morning and they taught. They're servants. They're teaching. They're imparting knowledge to the people in the temple. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together and all the elders of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.

They didn't realize they'd left the prison yet. But when the officers came and did not find them in prison, they returned and reported saying, Indeed, we found the prison door shut securely and the guards standing outside before the doors. But when we opened them, we found no one inside.

Now, these are not stupid people. The door's locked. There have been guards there nonstop. These prisoners are gone. Something, shall we say, extraordinary happened. Even they understand this. Now, when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priest heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. This was quite unusual.

This obviously was some type of miracle that had happened. So one came to them and said, Look, the men whom you have put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. They were right back to what they were doing yesterday.

Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence. The authorities didn't manhandle them, didn't try to rough them up. They brought them without violence, for they feared the people because they were also healing the people in the temple. Lest, they should be stoned.

The guards didn't want to be stoned. When they brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest asked them, saying, Did we not... Now, here's a good Gentile authority. Here's a good example of what Jesus was saying not to. Did we not strictly command you not to teach in His name? And look, you could fill Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood on us. Notice the high priest is using his authority and leadership like the Gentiles. He acts as if he's a king.

He had his title go to his head. I want you to notice how the disciples, it said, in His words, had been strictly commanded, not to preach the gospel. Well, you can see what they thought about that remark by their actions, right? So let's take a look here now in verse 29. But Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

Him God is exalted to the right hand to be prince and savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things. And so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. Now, verse 33, obviously, they were not happy with this message.

They didn't pull any punches, did they? They kind of told it like it is. They strongly. And when they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, held in respect, remember, leadership is influence, held in respect by all the people and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a while. We want to have a private discussion. Take these guys and take them outside. And, verse 35, He said to them, men of Israel, take heed to yourself. Be very careful what you do here.

This is the wisdom coming from this man. What you intend to do regarding these men, for some time ago, Thaddeus rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about 400, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.

After this man, Judas of Galilee, rose up in the days of the census and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing. But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest you be found to fight against God.

Good wisdom! Verse 40, And they agreed with him, and when they called for the apostles and had beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

Now, if they were reactive thinkers, like they had been just a few months ago, arguing about who was most important, how would they naturally have reacted to this situation? Oh, man! I hurt! I'm sure not going to do that again! Ouch! Wow! I'm a victim! Did you see how they hit me? Oh, this is terrible! God, where are you, God? How come you let these people beat me up like this? Where are you when I need you?

They didn't react that way. So they departed from the presence of the council rejoicing! When's the last time you were beaten to a pulp and you rejoiced? I'll tell you the last time I did, it never happened!

Because when I was beaten, I used reactive thinking. Ouch! It hurts!

But it says they departed from the presence of the council rejoicing, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. What's the difference between the men who argue about who's most important to the group of individuals who take a lickin' and keep on tickin' and say, Hey, I'm happy that I just got beat. I'm happy that I've been commanded not to preach the name of Jesus Christ because you know what? That's exactly what I'm going to do.

They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name and daily in the temple. And in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as to Christ. What's the difference? That the Pentecost was the difference. They were given God's Holy Spirit. And they went to God and they decided to change their lives and they knocked and they did something about it. And the change happened, didn't it? And the change was dramatic. This is just a few months from the same man who cowardly abandoned Jesus Christ on the night of his death, who all said, Oh, we'll be with you to the end. Oh, we won't let anybody do anything to you. We'll die with you. All of those men who became cowards just a few months later are accepting physical beatings, are ignoring the dictates of the high priest, and are doing what God wants them to do. What's the difference? The difference was they accepted and took into full force in their lives the power of God's Holy Spirit. One final scripture. Let's go to Philippians 4 and verse 8 and see if Paul understood the power of creative thinking. Philippians 4 and verse 8. Paul himself understood that one thing you have to do if you want to begin using creative thinking in your life that you have to begin filtering out the negative because the negative is going to hit you from every direction. It's going to hit you from some of your friends. It's going to hit you from your co-workers. The negativity is saturated in our media. You're going to be surrounded by negativity. And if you want to think proactively, if you want to think creatively, you must begin to filter out the negative. Look in chapter 4 and verse 8. Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true. What's he saying here? He's saying if something isn't true, filter it out. Whatsoever things are noble, if something is crass, if something is dysfunctional, if something is perverse, filter it out. Whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are a good report, if there be any virtue, if there be anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. Don't go to the news site and meditate on some transgender issue.

Don't go to the media and allow them to decide what your agenda is going to be. Don't allow the media to tell you what your values are or to decide for you what is right and what is wrong. Verse 9, the things which you have learned and believed and heard and saw in me, these do. I want you to notice how Paul was bold enough to say that he was setting the example here for the congregation.

And the God of peace will be with you, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now, at your last care, has flourished for me again. He was in prison at this time. He finally heard from them, and he was really pleased about that. He said, though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. So he softens the fact that they hadn't contacted him earlier. Verse 11, not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am in to be content. I know how to be a based. Paul knew how to accept humiliation because no one can take away your self-esteem unless you give them permission to do so. No one can take away your dignity unless you give them permission to take away your dignity. He said, I know how to be a based. I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full. I know what it's like to have a full belly, and I know what it's like to be hungry. Paul said, I've experienced it all. I've done it all. I've been there. Both to abound and to suffer need. And then he says something very powerful in verse 13, which we could say perhaps is the most powerful quote for creative thinking. Because this isn't his ego talking. This isn't self-esteem that's being generated just from self. This is self-esteem by being generated from something inside of him that is connected with him as a gift and has made him, transformed him into something he never was before. That's given him the ability to do things he could have never done on his own. He says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That's what I call a can-do attitude. That's what I call a powerful, positive perspective on life. That's what I call creative thinking.

I encourage you, brethren, to begin to put more effort into becoming a creative thinker because it will absolutely change our congregation forever. If more of us can be creative thinkers and begin to catch ourselves and begin to mute and to begin to reject reactive thinking, nothing can stop us from doing our mission.

As a congregation locally and as being part of God's Church, trying to preach the gospel to the world, I encourage you to examine yourself and your own personality. Understand the source of reactive thinking. That source is the prince of the power of the air. Let's begin to listen to ourselves when we speak. I'm a firm believer that if any of us ever recorded ourselves all day long and then listened to the things that we say and how we say them, we would probably be stunned. Probably be absolutely stunned. Make an effort to catch yourself when you use reactive thinking. And then rephrase it. Catch yourself and then rephrase it in a creative way. Do scriptural character studies on creative thinkers like Jesus Christ. Most of the disciples, like John, and we saw the example of the other disciples, you look at John and Peter, both very carnal before their conversion. Peter was, of course, a hothead. Peter was always spoke the first thing that came into his head, very reactive thinker. And when he was converted, he changed and became a very loving and compassionate and creative individual whom God used in powerful ways. John became known as the Apostle of Love. He changed so much. So we can do character studies, Bible studies, of individuals and look at the before and after and see the dramatic change in their lives. Study the Bible and see if you can catch the difference between reactive and creative thinking and almost all events and stories that happen throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. Well, you know, the terms creative thinking and reactive thinking are used in context of behavioral science. But I'm a firm believer that true science is in complete harmony with the Scriptures, total and complete harmony. In the New Testament, there are biblical phrases for what we've been talking about. In Galatians 5, it discusses reactive thinking and you know what it calls it? It calls it the works of the flesh. You see, it was biblical all along. Also in that chapter, it discusses creative thinking. But it doesn't call it creative thinking. It calls it possessing the fruit of the Spirit. So what we've been discussing here is phenomenally biblical. I try to present a lot of the information in a secular way, of course, with Scriptures to cement the points. But it all boils down to making a choice.

And that choice is to knock and make that effort to change our lives, to go beyond just hearing, but to begin to make that change in our lives. An important key to developing spiritual leadership is the expansion of creative thinking in our heads. And the development of positive personal leadership, if we're willing to make that effort, can have the benefit and a powerful impact in every area of your life. It will improve your marriage. It will improve your relations with your children. It will improve your relations at the workplace. It will influence and move in to everything. So with this foundation, next time we'll go beyond how we think and how we perceive events. And we will look at another aspect of personal leadership. Have a wonderful Sabbath.