Kingdom Leadership Series: How to Lead Like God Leads

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Part 3: How God Chooses Leaders

I. Introduction If were going to lead like God leads, we have to think like God thinks. A. Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV) B. Proverbs 23:7 For just as he hath thought in his own mind so he is . . . (Rotherham) How you think is everything. (Secret No.1, Investors Business Dailys 10 Secrets to Success)

Thoughts are like magnets. They possess a force that attracts to you that which you are constantly thinking about. Thoughts determine the direction of your life! Where the mind goes, the man follows. (Joyce Meyer) C. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (KJV)

D. A word is simply a thought that has been manifested ( = made evident by displaying.) 1. Thoughts lead to words. 2. Words lead to deeds. 3. Deeds lead to habits. 4. Habits lead to strongholds. The bottom line: Strongholds begin with thoughts.

E.

All in the State of Mind If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you dont; If you would like to win and dont think you can, Its almost a cinch you wont. If you think youll lose, youre lost; For out in the world youll find Success begins with a fellows will; Its all in the state of mind. Full many a race is lost Ere even a step is run And many a coward fails Ere even his work is begun.

Think big and your deeds will grow. Think small and youll fall behind: Think that you can and you will Its all in the state of mind. If you think youre outclassed, you are: Youve got to think high to rise. Youve got to be sure of yourself before You ever can win a prize. Lifes battles dont always go To the stronger or faster man; But, sooner or later, the man who wins Is the fellow who thinks he can.

II. How God Chooses Leaders A. God doesnt choose like the world chooses. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. (KJV)

Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (KJV)

Isaiah 66:2 . . . But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres My commands. (AMP)

B. Gods leadership criteria: the Little, the Least and the Last. 1. The Little a. Little = a small quantity or amount; unimportant; without much power or influence. Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. (KJV)

b. King Solomon 1 Kings 3:7-10 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. (KJV)

c. King Saul 1 Samuel 15:16-17 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on. So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? (NKJV)

2. The Least a. Least = lowest in importance or rank; smallest in magnitude or degree Luke 9:48 . . . For he who is least and lowliest among you all- he is [the one who is truly] great. (AMP) b. Gideon Judges 6:12, 14-15 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor! . . . Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?"

So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. (NKJV)

c. Paul (59 A.D.) 1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (NKJV) (64 A.D.) Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, (NKJV) (67 A.D.) 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (NKJV)

3. The Last a. Last = placed after all the others; being the only one left Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. (KJV) b. David 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-12 Now the Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." . . .

So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." . . . Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these. "And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?"

Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" (NKJV)

c. The Disciples Mark 9:33-35 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." (NKJV)

Notice that Jesus did not reprimand the disciples for wanting to be the greatest. The desire to be great has been placed in each human being at birth: Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion ( = to govern, to rule and to reign) . . . (KJV) Instead of reprimanding them for wanting to be great, Jesus told them the process to become great: be willing to be last of all and servant of all.

C. Leadership principles flowing from the little, the least and the last. 1. God can trust those who are little, least or last in their own eyes to rely upon Him, instead of themselves, to accomplish the work He has given them to do. They will trust and rely on His power instead of their own power to accomplish His will. Proverbs 28:26 He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [selfconfident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered. (AMP)

Judges 6:15-16 So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man." (NKJV) Exodus 3:11-12 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you. (NIV)

Jesus own testimony: John 5:19 . . . The Son can do nothing of himself . . . (KJV) John 7:16 . . . My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. (KJV) John 8:50 And I seek not mine own glory . . . (KJV) John 14:10 . . . the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself . . . (KJV)

2. Our strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 I will say this: because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a physical condition which has been a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me and prick my pride. Three different times I begged God to make me well again. Each time he said, "No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people."

Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ's power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite happy about "the thorn," and about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong-the less I have, the more I depend on him. (TLB)

Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (NKJV)

Matthew 5:3 God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven! (CEV) Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (KJV)

3. Character is first developed and demonstrated in the little things. Luke 16:10 . . . For unless you are honest in small matters, you won't be in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities. (TLB) 4. Being faithful with little results in ruler ship over many. Luke 19:17 And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. (NKJV)
Copyright 2006 by Bill Fries. All rights reserved.