Leaders Go First; Leaders Go Last

If you have been around Christ Fellowship very long, if you have been serving on a team, you have heard a lot about leadership.  You have heard Pastor Todd say “God has called us to lead the way so that we can see God bring radical transformation to our region.”

Indeed, we are seeing people stepping up to lead in our church; that’s how things get done, how we see radical transformation take place - through people full of passion, full of Jesus and full of courage standing out and stepping up to be a leader.  Many people are willing to work and sacrifice for God, but they just need a leader to look to, to connect with to get them moving forward. Leaders are needed so that people can work together to accomplish the mission!

I am one of these people that God called to stand out and step up in our church to be willing to lead.  Seven years ago, God was stirring my heart for something more.  I had been a part of the Christ Fellowship team; but suddenly, I was given the opportunity to lead in a greater way.  I was asked to launch the Stuart Campus and lead a group of families to build church in Martin County.  These past seven years have challenged me and stretched me so much! I have learned FIRST-HAND what it is to become a leader that God can work through and that people will follow.

The greatest example of an effective leader is Jesus.  He invested Himself in his disciples, specifically twelve.  The writers of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are very careful to include interactions with Jesus and His disciples - teachable moments when Jesus would turn to them and explain how to serve, how to lead.  We can learn from Jesus what leadership really is.

Leaders Go First
Leaders Go Last

Matthew 19:30   many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

In this passage, Jesus was commending His disciples for their great sacrifice to follow Him, to step in to their calling to lead and to preach the good news to the world.

As a leader, there are times when we must go last, and other times when we must go first.

Leaders Go First:

•    When the work is hard, the leader works the hardest

•    When morale is low, the leader encourages and inspires

•    When there is no forward momentum, the leader picks up the pace and creates momentum through energy, passion and creating easy wins for the team to achieve

•    When the path is unknown, the leader creates a path through clarity and setting goals

•    When the team failures, the leader is the first to own responsibility

•    When there is strife in a relationship, the leader initiates forgiveness and seeks to bring healing

•    When there is a challenge, the leader sacrifices first and goes first by meeting the challenge head on

Leaders Go Last: 

•    When the team reaches success, the leader gives the credit to the team.

•    When others on the team show great gifting, the leader creates room for those individuals to shine and to lead.  The leader “gives up” some leadership so that others can reach their potential.

•    After a big event, when everyone leaves for the night, the leader stays with the few to help tear down. He never leaves a team member by themselves to do the work.

•    When the team is sharing ideas in a meeting, the leader let’s everyone have a voice at the table.  The leader speaks last.

When God puts a passion in you for people, for His work, He very well may be calling you to stand out and step up to lead! Don’t be intimidated - where Gods guides, He always provides.   God is calling you to begin a leadership journey where God can begin to use you beyond all you could possibly imagine!

Joshua 1:8 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

An Encounter

The most amazing phenomenom...

The deepest desire that seems unattainable...

The farthest reach of man, beyond space or time...

…for you and I to encounter God.

How can we possibly encounter Who we cannot see or hear with human ability? 

How can we possibly touch the Divine, the Ancient of Days, the Alpha and Omega?

It is possible.  The Bible says it.  I have experienced it.

God…the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, the Creator of YOU, wants to fellowship….wants to interact with YOU.

Let me tell you some ways I encounter the Living God, the One and Only God, the God that sent His Son, Jesus:

I observe creation.  I see the majesty and artistry of God.

I enjoy my family.  I see the love and the design of God.

I get away for solitude and silence.  I hear the voice and the sound of God.

I serve people.  I see the heart and passion of God.

I give of my resources and myself.  I see the generosity and the abundance of God.

I observe the culture deteriorate the world.  I see the need for God to redeem the world .

God is real.  He is true.  He is close.  

God is speaking today…to You.  He will touch You, hold You, walk with You.  

Put yourself in a posture where you may encounter Him.  

and…it does not have to be just once in a while when you walk in to a church.  It can be every day!

God loves you…so much.

He is waiting for you to encounter Him.

What Does God Want To Do?

The great tension.  

The tension between what I can do…and what God wants to do.

As a Pastor, I feel a responsibility to lead, to move, to build, to do.  I do not care much to just sit and pray and just read my Bible…and wait.  

I am action-oriented, goal-driven.  I want to show something for my days and my work.  And I think God honors hard work and planning - setting goals.  He made us to be passionate for what He has called us to do.  He made us with a need to accomplish great things - especially when we work to do it to honor Him.  

What God is teaching me, however, is to not get in front of Him - to give Him space to speak to me and to lead me.  

So, today I am going to start my work week differently than I usually do:

Instead of setting my own goals, I will listen for God’s voice for His goals for me

Instead of prioritizing my tasks, I will try to understand God’s heart and make that my priority

Instead of moving at a fast pace, I will slow down and sync with God’s pace

Instead of teaching from my leadership and experience, I will teach from God’s Word - He is the Great Leader and Teacher

If we all would have this “Holy Mindset”, it puts us in the correct order of position.  You see, God has indeed called us to lead, to build, to move, to accomplish.  But He wants to lead us.

What He has planned for your life and for your ministry is so much greater, more impacting than you or I could ever plan.  How great to know that we can trust His plan to follow as we work in partnership with Him.  

Instead of asking “What can I do", 

today ask “What does God want me to do?"

Have You Been Working Out?

Have you been working out?

 I love when a friend stops me and says 

“wow.  you’re looking good.  Have you been working out?" (that doesn't happen as often as I would like :)

So, I ask you - Have you been working out?

Chances are the answer is no.  Your reply is that you’re too busy.  Too much going on right now.  You admit you need to get back in the gym, after you get through your busy season. 

A mentor of mine said: "if you are too busy to exercise…  you’re too busy. " 

That hits me right between the eyes. No excuses. 

I want to take this beyond just exercise and healthy diet.  Consider this notion:

We should ALWAYS be in training

I love Tim Tebow.  I know there are many opinions about his football skills and the hype around his popularity.  However, the quality I love about Tebow is that he is always in training mode.  He has conditioned himself to be at peak performance level.  Even though he is not currently playing for a football team, he understands the importance of preparing himself so he is ready when opportunity comes.  He is doing more than just working towards a goal of winning some games; he is on a journey of perpetual excellence and discipline.  

That inspires me.  That motivates me.

You and I need to be training ourselves in the areas of our gifting and our life’s work (our calling, if you will.) If you are newly married, you need to train to be a good spouse.  If you are a new parent, you need to train in parenting.  If you are a manager at work, you need to train in learning the art of good management.  Not good with finances? train yourself in learning spreadsheets and systems that will get you on track.

Become a master.  Train and practice.  Watch videos, read books, attend a class.  Get feedback.  Have a teachable attitude.  Preparation, preparation, preparation.  Prepare - write it down - then, tomorrow, look at your notes and edit them again.  Put time and focus into whatever you give yourself to.  The laundry can wait.  Let the lawn stay long through the weekend.  Don’t watch the re-runs on tv.  Invest yourself today.

1. Training is a mindset

Don’t wait until opportunity comes to start preparing.  Prepare yourself everyday - starting NOW!

2. Training takes focus

What are you going to cut out of your schedule so that you can train with focus and clarity? Don’t give in to the myth that you must keep carrying everything that you are carrying in your life.  Let some things fall away and fall behind and start blocking out some time for personal training.

3. Training costs you something

If you think you can’t afford a class or buying a book, I would say YOU CAN’T AFFORD NOT TO.  In your life, you are either investing or you are drifting.  Don’t let life just happen to you: make your life!

Reflect on your life - what is important to you? what is your dream? 

Begin taking on a training mindset.  You are not training just for where you are currently - you are training for where you are headed.

Worship God

Today, I am worshipping God just because.  You want to feel better? come before God with your worship.  You have a concern on your mind? Leave it…come and worship.  Something not working out the way you had hoped? Today…don’t talk to God about it…come before Him with worship and adoration.

  

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Today is not the day to ask God to bless you; it’s the day to bless God.

Psalm 34

I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

Have you failed God? Is your sin right before you? Don’t even let your sin our your failures block you from entering the very presence of God! Jesus has made a way! If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have put your trust only in Him to save you from your sin and from death, you belong to Him! His precious blood that He shed on the cross for your sins covers you.  

Hebrews 10:19-22

 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.  By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,  let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

You too can approach a Holy, Righteous God and worship with no fear, no guilt, no shame! Because of His Son, Jesus.

Jesus, You are worthy of my worship.  Take my life.  Use me for Your Holy purposes.  I give to You today.  I adore You.  Nothing else in this world satisfies.  You satisfy over and over again, day by day.  You lead me in paths of righteousness for Your Name sake.  

You, O Lord are the focus on my attention, the center of my affection.  You have been so good to me.  I magnify You today.  It’s all about You.  I am here worshipping You in your presence.