1. Thinking that is biblical, i.e. it is shaped by the doctrines of Christ’s Apostle’s

2. The goal of love for all we do, i.e. of all the services we render or products we produce and market

3. The priority of prayer for all men  to come to knowledge Christ-centered truth, especially in authority issue contexts

A fourth insight involves developing and choosing leaders.  We are to take to work an intentionality to develop and evaluate future leaders on the basis of their character.

When Paul instructs his next generation leaders, Timothy and Titus, about choosing leaders, he focuses almost exclusively on character.  Leadership skills are very important, but not of first importance.  To use one of Jesus’ metaphors, good fruit comes from a good tree. A person’s character displays his or her heart, deepest held values, priorities, passion, trustworthiness, and goals, all of which shape why, how, who and where they will lead. (Read that sentence again.) The character qualities listed by Paul in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 will identify the “good trees” that can be cultivated, pruned and shaped to bear much fruit and reproduce the next generation of good trees.

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (I Tim. 3 1-7)

It is more reasonable to expect persons of “good tree” character to seek to learn every fact and skill needed for excellent job performance, because their character testifies they are learning to do the  right things the right way at the right time for the right reasons, which as others have said is a definition of of good leader.

Highly valuing and intentionally developing godly character in others is at the heart of leadership.

Like Timothy we face issues arising from the less than ideal exercise of authority at many levels in our churches, schools, businesses, non-profits, governing agencies, nations and cultures.  While there are many useful skills we can learn to exercise authority, manage expectations and avoid, resolve or cope with conflict, Paul reminds Timothy that the first priority in regard to all people in authority is prayer. Prayer is vital to a peaceful, quiet, and dignified culture at any level in any sector of society.

Prayer is to be focused on the authorities coming to the “knowledge of the truth” through one Mediator, Christ Jesus.  Such a focus is concerned for much more than the economic, judicial or political outcome we prefer.  It is concerned for the salvation and sanctification of those in authority through grace by faith in Christ.  It is concerned that those in authority grow in wisdom and ability to be godly stewards of the authority the LORD has entrusted to them.  It is concerned about their heart, conscience and faith.

We also observed from Paul’s exhortation that our prayers must be accompanied with a “lifting up holy hands” and be consistent with our profession of godliness.  This is to say that it must arise out of a lifestyle set apart for the LORD’S service.  While the standard is “Be holy as your Father in heaven,” no one can meet the standard, therefore it is to arrive from a lifestyle of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who is our righteousness.

The most effective leaders are those who seek to solve problems at the level of cause, including problems with all people in authority.  Authority issues are often issues only solved at a spiritual level.  These are issues often related to feelings of insecurity, insignificance, fear, hopelessness and avoidance of pain.   These issues can only be resolved at the deepest level by faith in Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.   At the heart, leaders are intercessors.

Last week we looked at “Apostolic Teaching” and  its importance to a leader to give shape and provide perspective, purpose, priorities, principles, personal relationships, power and pleasure.  This week we consider making love the goal of all we do.

When Paul states that the goal of his charge to Timothy or the goal of his instruction is love, he summarizes the whole of the message of Scripture, the Gospel, and the significance of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.   You will recall that Jesus taught that the whole of the law (Scriptures) can be summarized by the commands to love God and to love our neighbor (Matt. 22:34-40).  He also gave the command upon his departure, “Love one another as I have loved you.”  He went so far as to say that it is by our unity and love that the world will judge if the Father sent the Son and loves them (John 13:35; 17:20-26).

Love need not be thought of as manifest only in an attitude or emotion behind our action.  Love can be manifest in the action itself or in the service rendered or the product produced for the good of the user.  Love produces a visible product, or action or service.  Love might cook and serve a meal, sew a uniform, provide wise counsel or make any number of products that improve life.

For the sake of space, let me define “love” as “adding present and eternal value to another,”  making their situation “better” as defined by God’s value system revealed in Scripture.  Thinking of biblical images, we can say that love covers a wide range.  It includes meeting physical needs - a cup of cold water, clothing, housing, etc.  It includes “visiting them in prison” or “pouring oil on their wounds” as a Good Samaritan.  It includes thinking more highly of others then ourselves.  It even includes holding others accountable and discipling them sometimes as does a loving father.

All of these can be translated into an vast number of goods, services, attitudes and behaviors manifest in any sphere of our existences.   A loving husband is easy to conceive.  But a factory worker who makes a high quality, safe, enjoyable automobile to meet a person’s need for transportation is performing a loving act.  So also, a plumber who fixes a  sink, to meet our need for sanitation, if done well as a cheerful reliable service.

Paul is saying that the end result of Apostolic teaching, is to produce love from a pure heart good conscience and sincere faith.  The question is, “How can my leadership produce love?”  How can what we do, as a result of Apostolic understanding produce loving attitudes, loving actions,  loving products and services?

The opening words of Paul’s letter read Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.  These words were written in a personal letter to Timothy who knew full well Paul was an Apostle.  Paul was reminding Timothy to remember the source and authority of  the sound words that would shape Timothy’s thinking and leadership.  Its source was Christ through His Apostle Paul.  Its authority was God’s.   To think like Paul was to think as God had taught His Apostle’s to think.

Take apostolic thinking – i.e. take thinking that is in accordance with the glorious gospel (I Tim 1:11), by which you are able to fulfill by faith the stewardship given us by God (I Tim 1:4).  Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Mat 4:4; Deut 8:3) is a truth that applies to our work of leadership as well as our stomachs.  Jesus gave the words the Father had given Him to His Apostles (John 17:8).  Jesus gave us His Apostles to equip us for the work of service (Eph 4:11).  Paul repeatedly reminds Timothy about what Paul calls sound doctrine (I Tim 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim 1:13; 4:3; Titus 2:1), in contrast to any different doctrine (1:3; 6:3).  The early Christian community devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teachings (Acts 2:42).  We are to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), i.e. the Apostolic body of teaching.  The doctrines of the Apostles are to shape the heart – the faith, intellect, emotions, will, agendas, and worldview - of biblical Christ-centered leaders.  It is out of this invisible context that we lead most effectively.

Apostolic thinking results in 7 key values for high impact leaders:

1. Perspective -  Every leader needs perspective.   Apostolic perspective has two timelines.  There is what could be called a “Life” perspective that is eternal and a “Project” perspective that is temporary, only lasting during our present temporal existence.  Apostolic thinking aligns Project perspective with Life perspective.  The temporal is subservient to the eternal.

2.  Purpose - Every leader and follower wants to  know “why?” i.e. they must have have a sufficient motivating purpose.  From an  Apostolic perspective the “why” is for God’s glory and our enjoyment.  Jesus taught us to pray, Hallowed be Thy name…Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Paul puts it, “whatever you do, do all for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31).

3. Priorities - Effective leaders value doing first things first.  They choose the important over the urgent.  They understand that value governs time and resource usage.  The combination of an Apostolic perspective and purpose establishes eternal and motivating values, which determines priorities, i.e. time and resource management.

4.  Principles - Every effective leader needs and seeks out value based “best practices.”  Biblical wisdom, reflected in Apostolic thinking, is what makes good companies great.  There is a way that seems right to man, but it ends in death.

5.  Personal Relationship - Leadership is influence.  The best influence is influence through relationship and example, enabled by the leader’s lively relationship with Jesus Christ, who came to serve rather than be served.  Our relationship to Christ as central to our relationship with God, one another, our world and work is at the center of Apostolic thinking.  To value little such thinking is to value little the most effective means of leading.

6.  Power - Paul understood that there exists a source  of power, a capacity to accomplish, an ability to brings results, that exists outside of himself or any earthly sources.  Paul reflected this enabling power when he wrote, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Leadership often confronts us with the limitations of our own power.  Apostolic thinking thinks outside the box of our own limitations.

7.  Pleasure - Apostolic thinking leads to the valued pleasure born of a “good conscience,” one that is free from guilt, fear and dead works through Jesus Christ.  It is a pleasure derived from experiencing the blessings from the alignment of Project and Life perspective, purposes, priorities, principles and personal relationship – i.e. the pleasure of a converged life.  It is a pleasure from being in the presence of God, where there are pleasure forever through Jesus Christ.  It is as Apostle Peter expresses it,  we believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory… (1 Pet 1:8).

When you leave the house to lead, for that matter, while leading at home, make sure you take Apostolic thinking.

]]> http://www.equippingleadersinternational.org/mountan/?feed=rss2&p=161 http://www.equippingleadersinternational.org/mountan/?p=159 http://www.equippingleadersinternational.org/mountan/?p=159#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:08:49 +0000 Don and Merril http://www.equippingleadersinternational.org/mountan/?p=159 In a recent issue of Forbes magazine Geoff Colvin wrote an opinion article entitled “A New American Exceptionalism - That’s Not Just About Money.” He asked the question, “What makes America great?”    In it Colvin said that “The conventional case for U.S. greatness has long rested on economic success…” This has been true since the economic prosperity coming after WWII, as Andrew L. Yarrow, pointed out in Measuring America: How Economic Growth Came to Define American Greatness in the Late Twentieth Century.

The problem today is that America is loosing its place as the economic superpower.  Colvin wrote, “In a December poll, 80% of Americans agreed that the “U.S. has a unique character that makes it the greatest country in the world,” but a large majority of them also believed “we’re at risk of losing it.”"

Colvin concludes, “For the most of our history we saw our unique character arising from the ideals of freedom, democracy, and openness…Shifting to an economically driven concept was seductively easy.  Shifting back will be harder.”

The answer to shifting back to a sense of “exceptionalism” can only be found if leaders recapture the source of the freedom and the applications in the many social economic spheres of our society that made America “exceptional.”  The source of freedom and its benefits is Jesus Christ who sets us free from the guilt, power, deceptive thinking and emotions of sin as set forth in the Judeo-Christian Scripture.

Christ came to set a people free so that they might live free in society by His power for His glory and His agenda which is in the end for their good.  Many of the founders of America recognized the biblical realities as they applied to the spheres of a civil society.  The case has been made often that America’s freedoms and greatness have a root in the Judeo-Christian biblical world-view.  This is abundantly clear from the many quotes and mottos inscribed in various places throughout our land, to include ironically on every piece of U.S. currency - “In God We Trust.”

The Psalmist wrote, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the  people whom He has chosen as His inheritance…(Ps 33:12).”  The Christian Church is the nation God has chosen and blessed with freedom and its benefits through Christ.  Apostle Peter states the point, “You [Christians] are a chosen race, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (I Pet 2:9).”

God has chosen His people and made them “exceptional,” to be salt and light, a witness to the nations, that is, to lead others to see the blessing that come by serving the LORD in faith.  In the truest sense it is only the Church that is “exceptional.”  But the Church, as a multitude of individual citizens interacting within a society, influences the political nations and can bring to it blessing by its exceptional leadership.  It is the Church, “the pillar and buttress of truth (I Tim 3:15)” that must lead America and all other nations to the source of greatness and a new identity.

May the LORD enable you to go be an exceptional leader today.

My uniform with its silver bars did not provide security when I was attacked by one of my own troops with a knife.  First Sargent Nishakuni provided my security with his pool cue swagger stick.  Truth be told, any number of weapons could overcome the flak jacket.  A carpenter’s skill and a few oak boards did not protect me when it was “time for a change of leadership.”  A leader’s security is not to be found in the outward adornments, symbols or tools of his or her position.

I am reminded that real security is from the LORD.  David, God’s leader and Christ type, reminds us in Psalm 139 that the LORD knows us intimately and completely.  He knows us when we sit down or rise up.  He knows every word on our tongues even before we speak.  He knows us even if we try to run away and hide, no matter how far, whether it is in the light or dark.  He knows exactly how we are made inasmuch as He took the creative part in shaping us and made us wonderfully.  He knows our days inasmuch as He formed our days for us before there were any days or nights.  He knows us intimately and completely and leads us throughout our days.  Every morning we wake up we are still with Him.

I am reminded of Paul’s comments to the Ephesians, For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10).  I am reminded of his remarks to the Romans as he reflected upon the sovereign and gracious outworking of our redemption through Jesus Christ, What shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own son but gave Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:31,32).

Leadership brings with it inherent risks - all manner of risk.  Leaders must operate through and beyond the risky zones and do so in a manner to inspire confidence in those they lead.  To do this they need a deep personal security that transcends the many categories of risks and enables them to work through the lesser risks.  Deep personal security is not to be found in who we are or what we have done, but real security is found in who the LORD and His Christ are and what they have done, are doing and will do for and through those set apart in Christ from before the foundation of the world.

If you not done so recently, I encourage you to take 15 minutes today, maybe even now, to read Psalm 139, Eph. 1:3-14 and Romans 8.  Consider the LORD’S long term commitment and investment in you who have received His salvation through faith in Christ.  It began before time, continues through time and extends until after time as we know it - to the praise of His grace.

How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land?

If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill?

Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you,

if I do not set Jerusalem above all my joys!”

The Psalm reflects the deep depression of the oppressed who are separated form their homeland, and in particular from Jerusalem.  Jerusalem was the pride and pleasure of Israel.  Jerusalem was the city in which was located the Temple and “Throne” of God and therefore in some sense His Presence, Power, Provision, Protection and Pleasures of the Covenant relationship He had with Israel.  Jerusalem was the place where the heart of Israel could be stirred to song, worship.

But Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonians and the Israelites had been carried into captivity, almost 1,000 miles from Jerusalem.  Their captors, as if to rub their faces in defeat, taunted them, Sing us one of the songs of Zion! But Israel could not sing; they sat down and wept, they hung their instruments on the trees (vss.1,2).  They did not know how to sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land - How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land? (vs.4).  They felt the risk of forgetting Jerusalem, the very essence of the reason for singing the LORD’S song.  They looked forward to the day when Babylon itself would be destroyed and blessed the one who would destroy her and her little ones (vss. 8,9).

I was challenged to consider how this Psalm relates to me in the 21st AD century, historically on the other side of the Cross of Christ from Israel in Babylon in the 6th century BC.  In some respects I am like Israel - dwelling in a foreign land, a land in which there is little regard for the God of Israel, a land where the God’s Covenant People are often taunted.  But in other respects I am not like Israel and I do know how and can sing in a foreign land because of Christ.

As a result of the atoning work of Christ, His resurrection and ascension, He and the Father sent forth His Holy Spirit so that God’s Presence, Power, Provision, Protection and Pleasures of the Covenant relationship finds a residence in effect in those who believe the Gospel.  Jesus foretold the day when the worship [song of the LORD] then limited to Jerusalem would no longer be limited to that physical place; Women, believe Me, the hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. He told of the day when true worshipers will worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:21-24)- possible any where.

I am different from another perspective; I am no longer under captivity.  Christ has overcome the world and bid me to take heart in His victory (John 16:33).  Christ has set me free for me to enjoy my freedom; For freedom Christ has set us free (Gal 5:1).  The Apostle John reminds me For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith (1 John 54).

A very practical expression and illustration of the freedom and joy to sing the LORD’S song is Paul.  He records his joy in the letter to the Philippians.  It is a letter full of exhortation to rejoice and again I say rejoice notwithstanding Paul is actually in a Roman prison.  His heart is stirred not because he is in Jerusalem, but because of Christ, before whom every knee will bow, and the advance of the Gospel in the “foreign” land - the land of his captors.

Paul was a leader who helped shape the world.  He was able to lead with great effect and impact because he knew how to sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land, the lands of those who opposed his God.  He did not hang up his instruments when he was captured or taunted, but rather he sang the LORD”S song - preached the Gospel and God changed the world of his captors.

How about you?  Do you know how to sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land?  Are you singing it?

Quite to the contrary, top leaders, actually all leaders, in God’s Kingdom are duty bound to reveal in public the secrets to the Kingdom’s success, which were reveled to them in private.

Addressing the issue of why He teaches in parables, Jesus says  -To you [His Apostles] has been given the secret of  the Kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables... (Mark 4:11).  He next explains  the Parable of the Sower, the essence of which is the range of responses to the Word of God as it is sown, i.e. taught or preached.  This is followed by a question and a purpose statement, Is a lamp brought in to be put under a  basket or a bed, and not on a stand?   For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light (Mk 4:21-23).

The take away is that Jesus is telling His Apostles - His Kingdom’s leaders and the trainers of future Kingdom leaders - that they are to reveal the trade secret He has given to them.  They are to reveal what makes the Kingdom a success.

The secret is simply that we are to accept (trust and obey) the person, works and words of Jesus in repentance and faith.  The measure to which we do is the measure to which we will bear fruit (experience success) in the Kingdom - 30, 60, 100 fold (Mk. 4:20, 24).  We pray, Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven in faith that the LORD would bless the work of our hands so that His reign will be evident in everything we do on earth, whether it is to build a family, a church, a business,  a nation, and a culture.  To see that happen we must reveal the secret He has revealed to us.

As leaders who seek to bear fruit in God’s Kingdom, whether it is in the influence spheres of family, church, education, business, arts or governance, the measure of our leadership success will be determined by our own repentance, faith and obedience to Christ, which includes revealing the trade secret to those we lead.  This is to be intentionally pro-active to explain the application of God’s word in the light of the Gospel of Christ to whatever the situation.

Prayer:  O LORD, grant us to  understand the application of the trade secret of Your Kingdom today, enable us to trust and obey your person, work and words.  Grant us to understand how to revel this to those we lead today in the many places we have influence.

I was reminded of this truth while reading Psalm 119 this morning.  The Psalmist celebrates God’s words, His testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, rules and commandments.  He reminds his readers: Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies…I have more understanding than all my teachers…I understand more than the aged… (vss. 98-100).

The LORD graciously blesses, provides for, dwells with and protects from enemies those who keep His Law, which is our guardian/school teacher to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24), who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1Cor 1:30).  The LORD delivers us from our enemies, often by the shear power of His wisdom, His Word applied, brought to bear in a situation.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD (Isa 55:8). As a consequence, many of our teachers, although quite learned and degreed in the world system, are limited in their understanding - limited to man’s library of rationalizations.  God’s valuable Word reveals a higher understanding.  Jesus told Peter, …flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven (Mat 16:17).  Jesus gave us words the Father gave Him, as a consequence we have come to know the truth (Joh 17:8), and often find ourselves wiser than our teachers.

While we often venerate the aged, presuming they have gained the wisdom born of experience, age by itself does not make a man or women wise.  The Psalmist describes the wisdom that is greater than the “aged” - ...I keep your precepts.  I hold back my feet from every evil way in order to keep your word (vs.100).  After the wise Solomon investigated every avenue to wisdom and meaning, he concluded, The end of the matter…Fear God and keep His commandments…for God will bring every deed into judgment...(Eccl 12:13,14)

The judgment of our sin as a result of our lack of wisdom, understanding and obedience has been satisfied in Christ’s death on our behalf.  As a result, we who believe in Him, have been reconciled to God and He has given to us His Holy Spirit that guides us into the Truth of God’s Word, making us wiser than our enemies, of greater understanding than our teachers and the aged sages through His valuable Word.

The Word of God is the most valuable tool in a leader’s toolbox.  Read it, meditate on it from its Christ-centered perspective, pray it and apply it.

Bob became a believer in Christ, by the power of His word and grace

I would be delighted to read your comments on this issue?

Come to Me, all who are are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart;and you shall find rest for your souls (Matt 11:28,29)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all I have commanded you; and low I am with you always, even  to the end of  the age (Matt 28:19,20).

What came to my attention from the two passages was that leaders “Come” and “Go.”  They come to Jesus in their weariness with their heavily burdened hearts, take on His yoke, learn from Him, then they go make disciples, i.e. they lead the nations through teaching them what Christ has taught them in their weariness of soul.

Leadership has its wearisome burdens.  They may be the heavy chains of his or her own true guilt before God or the false guilt of Pharisaical traditions.  They may be from shame brought on by failing to live up to one’s own standard of performance, or from a lack of wisdom to know how to be effective, or from a sense of lack of power to accomplish a desired end, or frustration related to external obstacles to success, whether they be physical, financial, or relational.  The burden might be fear of others, fear of loss or fear of success, with which comes greater responsibilities. The reality is, leadership comes with problems that are heavy, weary and burdensome.

The question is, “How is the weariness, the heaviness, the heart felt burden to be released?”  It is important to know the answer if we are to lead, make disciples, of the nations.  It is important because every person in every nation struggles with the same and similar burdens?  They are all looking for the answer - many from you.

The answer is “Come;”  come to Jesus who is your burden barrier; learn from Him.  He the gentle, humble teacher who has not only given Himself as the atoning sacrifice for your sin, but who is alive and well and indwells all who come to Him in faith by His Spirit to be with always.  His Spirit guides us into truth, cleanses our conscience, gives us peace before God, gives us wisdom, power, righteousness, love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  He gives us gifts, empowers and stands behind us as the authority to do all He calls us to do as leaders.

When a leader daily “Comes” to Jesus, lays his burden down in faith, he or she will be much more convincing, by their experienced example of a soul set free, as they “Go” to make disciples.