Followers Make Good…
Lesson 01 Leaders and Followers
Grady (Doc) Henley
January 2004
Key Verse:
1 Tim 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
1 Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Key Thought:
Lead by example.
INTRODUCTION:
The church of God is the pillar and ground of Truth. If the lost world is to hear and know the Truth, it is the responsibility of the church to ensure that Truth is not compromised.
The church, as the pillar, supports the truth, just as a pillar and the ground supports a building. Some buildings are built on concrete foundations while others are built on pillars, especially around the seashore. Regardless, each has a foundation. The building is only as secure as its foundation. It is therefore, the responsibility of the local church, the pillar and ground of Truth to stand for the Truth, John 17:17.
The building Paul referenced, 1 Timothy 3:15, represents two things. The first is the local church. The second is our individual lives. We must have truth for our foundation where upon we build our lives and testimony. The church supports the foundation and the foundation supports the church, so that both the building and the foundation support each other. The pillar of Truth is secured into the ground and the and the ground rest upon the pillar, 1 Cor 3:11. 2 Cor 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. * (see comments on last page)
This sounds like circular reasoning and it is for the bible says that God is all in all, 1 Cor 12:6, 15:28, Eph 1:23. In order for the local church to stand for the Truth, two very important types of people are needed: leaders and followers.
Some one once said: “There are two kinds of people in the world: leaders and followers. Each person must decide which one they are and get busy following or leading.” Another wise soul said: “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!”
Those making up the church, the pillar and ground of Truth, occupy a double role in that we are followers and leaders. We follow the Lord, John 12:26, and in so doing we lead others to Him. If we are ineffective at following, we will not be effective at leading. It is imperative we do well at both.
‘Follow me’ occurs 25 times in 24 verses in the King James Bible. The phrase occurs 18 times in the Gospels. One would think that after being admonished eighteen times to follow Him, we ought not find self in some situation and then look around and inquire, “Lord, where did you go? Or “How did I end up here?” Each of us must remember that the command given two thousand years ago to follow the Lord is just as valid today as then.
How we behave in the house of God determines whether we are leaders, followers, or just taking up space. While there is nothing wrong with being a leader or a follower, for both have great rewards, there is something wrong with someone who considers themselves a leader, when in reality they are not even a follower, they merely take up space. Those that are taking up space are not standing for anything, James 1:22. They deceive themselves.
There is much to learn from that old saying: “There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians around here.” If the Indians (church members) would rally around their chief (their pastors) and support him as he follows the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then everyone will occupy a double role and do their assigned task in a manner pleasing and acceptable unto God.
As we enter this study of leaders and followers it is imperative we learn from the start that we begin our discipleship by following Him. As we grow, we ought to mature into Christian leaders.
This series of studies is taken from various situations and scriptures. By studying the situation that such men of God found themselves in, and what the scriptures said about their situation and how each reacted, we ought to be able to put into practice, 1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Furthermore, we should learn when to follow and when to lead.
The fact that you are alive and reading this reveals several things. One such thing is God is not through with you yet. You are either in His will or out of His will and in your own. The revelation that your local church is still a visible body reveals much of what God told the nation of Israel, in Malachi. He is the Great I AM and He changes not. Because of His infinite nature, they would not be consumed, Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Because His word to Israel is steadfast, the nation of Israel remains even to this day, surrounded by enemies and yet He keeps them.
The same is true for the church, the pillar and ground of truth of the Living God. Enemies surround us, yet He keeps us for He told us the gates of hell would not prevail against us. Each of us should claim this promise and heed the command and follow Him. It is rather easy to take that passage in Malachi and apply it to the nation of Israel and say something like, “Yes, God has really kept His promise to the nation of Israel.” It is an entirely different matter for the believer to take Mat 16:18 and apply it directly to self and their local church. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
I. THERE ARE LEADERS AND THERE ARE GREAT LEADERS.
Without a doubt, Jesus Christ was the greatest leader that ever lived. He invented the concept, laid out the principles, and by way of His inspired words, He still leads people today.
Many authors on self help concepts, leadership, role models, etc. say that there is no such thing as a born leader, that leadership is a learned skill and if you buy their product, and use their material, you too will be a leader. When I read such statements, I begin to wonder how the great leaders of the past accomplished the great feats accredited unto them without the help of the motivational speakers and education lore of the past three generations relating to this topic.
I believe anyone can learn the concepts of leadership by acquiring and obtaining knowledge. However, wisdom is the key to using what is acquired at the proper time and in the correct manner. An example of such is anyone can learn to drive a car. Learning is knowledge. By assessing the information based on the condition of the road, the car, etc., wisdom tells you when to speed up and slow down, though not everyone that drives, assess the facts as they drive. Few even bother to use what they learn.
A. What Is A Leader?
It was said one time: “Everyone that considers themselves a leader should look behind them every once in a while and see if anyone is following them.” Furthermore, one ought to be concerned with the character of the folks following them. A person is known by the company they keep, Prov 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. The people following you are either sharpening you or they are making you unfit for the Lord’s service. What are you doing for them?
For the past 2,000 years, Jesus Christ has always had followers. Some were more dedicated and sincere than others. Regardless, He inspired others to be like Him.
Each of us has an idea of what a leaders looks like, how they should act, and we can describe what we believe a good leader’s attributes are. We have preconceived idea of what we expect from a leader and if the leader does not match our image, the leader is doomed for failure from the start. 1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
1. Defining attributes of great leaders.
What are the actions and attributes of a leader? What is it that makes him or her different from others when it comes to inspiring people to go above and beyond what they thought they could do?
Listed below are some items that go into the characteristics and qualities of a leader. Keep in mind this list is not all definitive, but most would agree that a leader ought to possess many of these.
1. A leader learns to use the phrases "thank you" and "please" on his way to the top.
2. A leader is always growing.
3. A leader is possessed with his dreams.
4. A leader launches forth before success is certain.
5. A leader is not afraid of confrontation. Prov 20:26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
6. A leader is a person of honesty and integrity, Prov 17:23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
7. A leader has a good name. Acts 11:22…and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
8. A leader makes others better, Prov 28:28.
9. A leader is quick to praise and encourage the smallest amount of improvement.
10. A leader is genuinely interested in others.
11. A leader looks for opportunities to find someone doing something right.
12. A leader takes others up with him.
13. A leader responds to his own failures and acknowledges them before others have to discover and reveal them.
14. A leader does not permit murmuring—from himself or others.
15. A leader is specific in what he expects.
16. A leader holds accountable those who work with and for him.
17. A leader does what is right rather than what is popular.
18. A leader is a servant, Prov 28:15.
19. COMMITMENT! The key to all the above
If you could find someone that mastered all 19 of the items listed above, would you have doubts or be troubled at following their lead? Before you answer yea or nay, remember that Jesus Christ mastered those and every other quality of leadership as well. Yet, folks still hesitate to commit unto following Him 100%.
If you expect those attributes from the people you follow, what should those that look unto you as a leader expect from you or me? Should we give them less than we expect?
2. Leaders are ever learning.
"The most precious and intangible quality of leadership is trust. This is the confidence that the one who leads will act in the best interest of those who follow. It gives assurance that he or she will serve the group without sacrificing the rights of the individual.
A good leader possesses a ‘sense of rightness'--knowing when to advance and when to pause, when to criticize and when to praise, how to encourage others to excel. From the leader's reserves of energy and optimism, his followers draw strength. In the leader's determination and self-confidence, they find inspiration.
In its highest sense, leadership is integrity. This command by conscience asserts itself more by commitment and example than by directive. Integrity recognizes external obligations, but it heeds the quiet voice within, rather than the clamor without." http://www.appleseeds.org/leadrshp.htm
3. The Reluctant Leaders Prayer.
Many people seize the opportunity to lead. Others, such as Gideon, Judges 6, went at it reluctantly, but once in command did quite well.
Joe Seremane said in his “Prayer of a Reluctant Leader”
You asked for my hands that you might use them for your purpose; I gave them for a moment, then withdrew them for the work was hard.
You asked for my mouth to speak out against injustice and sin. I gave you a whisper that I might not be accused.
You asked for my life that you might work through me. I gave a small part that I might not get too involved.
Lord, forgive my calculated efforts to serve you only when it is convenient for me to do so, only in those places where it is safe to do so, and only in those who make it easy to do so.
Lord, forgive me, renew me, heal me, nurture me, empower me, send me out as an instrument of your peace that I might take seriously the meaning of servant-leadership. Amen.
Regardless of whether we lead reluctantly or willing, or whether we are the most trusted follower ever, let us remember that all that we do, we do for the Lord, Rom 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. You may not ever lead men into battle as did George Washington or write books of inspiration as did Helen Keller. It matters not on the grand scale our accomplishments. What matters is that we do our best faithfully and obediently for Him.
B. Quality.
If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent. Leadership is the great challenge of life. It is a challenge to refine and use your skills in situations as they arise. Great leaders never believe they have attainted for they strive to be more efficient and effective.
When we consider the role of a coach in the professional sports arena, it is plain that the coach cannot play the game better than the least of the players on the team. What the coach has over the team is, he is able to inspire and exhort the players to perform beyond what they thought as individuals. Furthermore, he units their individual efforts into one effort called the team. The coach has the gift of discernment and sees things in the players that they fail to see or choose to disregard, 1 Ki 3:9 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?
1. Learn to be strong but not rude.
· If one desires to hone their leadership skill, an extra step that must be taken before one matures into a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach is do not mistake rudeness for strength. Rudeness is not even a good substitute.
2. Learn to be kind but not weak.
· Kindness is sometimes mistaken for weakness. Such thinking is deceptive. Kindness is more in line with silent strength. We must be kind enough to tell somebody the truth. The truth should not be the leader’s perception of right or wrong. Rather the truth must be presented with facts. Kindness allows the leader to present the facts and the one lacking then must agree with the facts. The leader does force the learner to accept them. The leader merely presented them so that the facts bring about the desired change. A leader must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.
· Learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build their influence, the leader must walk in front of the group. That old saying of “I’ll lead the way; you go ahead” will not win the confidence of those following you. The leader must be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, and discover the first sign of trouble.
3. A leader learns humility, but is not timid.
· Timid leaders do not inspire people to excel. Some people mistake a sense of timidity for humility. Humility is almost a God-like word in that it is a sense of awe, wonder, an awareness of the human soul and spirit. Humility understands there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between the stars, and us yet it maintains the sense that the Creator of the stars created us as well. Therefore, humility is a virtue; but timidity is a disease. Timidity is an affliction, a problem that can be cured.
4. Be proud but not arrogant.
· Great leaders have pride, but they are not prideful. It takes pride to win the day, to build your ambition, or accomplish difficult tasks. The key to becoming a good leader is being proud without being arrogant. One of the worst attributes a leader could ever possess is to be arrogant and be ignorant of it. This is merely not knowing what you do not know and instead of learning the leader opts to remain in blissful ignorance. Such a state is intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate it for only so long. However, if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that is just too much to take.
5. Develop humor without folly.
· This is very important for a sense of humor shows the human side of the leader. A leader learns when to be witty, but not silly. It is okay to be fun, but not foolish.
6. Leaders deal in realities.
· A leader will save themselves some agony if they accept life like it is. Life is unique. Some people call it tragic, unique is a better word. The whole drama of life is unique and fascinating. A leader may read every book available on leadership and still must learn first hand that what inspired one, will not inspire everyone. The fundamental skills of leadership can be adapted to work well for just about everyone at work, in the community, and at home.
It takes a wise leader to use the skills given to them.
“To Your Success” by Jim Rohn; Reproduced with permission; from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine: subscribe at: www.jimrohn.com
One will never be a great leader until they master the art of being a faithful follower, Luke 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
II. LEADERSHIP IN ACTION.
True leaders in our government, churches, and families have never been more needed than today. Leadership does not come naturally for most; nor are their “10 Easy Steps” to obtaining and maintaining a leadership position. Merely emulating someone else will not do it. Effective leadership must be worked at every day. Leaders must daily commit themselves to spiritual growth and maturity in the ways of the Lord.
Each of us often looks at self and says something to the effect: “I am not a leader. I am just me.” While such a statement is true, such does not present the entire picture of your influence or being. God has given everyone of us influence over people and situations, Rom 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. People are watching and some are imitating our good traits and bad. One of the big problems of such is we often do not know who it is that is doing the imitating and how many years it will take to correct a bad habit that we lead them into adopting.
There is one great thing relating to leaders and leadership and that is the characteristics and attributes for good and great leaders are the same whether in the church or the work place. Prov 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. People respect and expect their leaders to be righteous. What you learn here in church applies in the work place and home as well. People may not read the bible, but you may rest assured they read our lives.
A. Laying the Foundation
If one intends to be a strong follower or leader, they must have a plan. Without a plan outlining the steps necessary to reach our goal, our life will resemble the Jews during their wilderness wanderings. That is why our plan must have a strong foundation with Truth for its pillar. God had a plan and a goal. There were steps taken along the way to measure the progress.
1. Action.
God did not at some point in time in the eons of eternity past snap His finger and exclaim, “I know what I am going to do! I am going to create!” He had a plan and in the fullness of it, He began to bring it to pass.
He had a goal, in that He would redeem mankind unto Himself, 2 Cor 5:19.
He had a purpose, Isa 45:18-19.
He had an objective, Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
2. Construction.
This great idea formed in the mind of God did not remain there. He put form to it. The heaven portray His handiwork, Psa 19:1. The prophet Daniel saw it as an everlasting kingdom, Dan 7:13-14. He gave substance to His plan in the life of His Son Jesus Christ so much so that to look at the life of Jesus was to look into the mind of God, for Jesus revealed God to man.
3. Communicate.
His plan did not stop there, for He placed it on paper and revealed it in His word that remains forever, Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Furthermore, He offers to everyone the opportunity to share in His eternal plan.
Once He communicated the opportunity, He was, by the very nature of His being, committed to bringing it to pass, Heb 6:18. As it is impossible for God to lie, what He planned, constructed, and communicated is a done deal, 1 Chr 17:20 O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
When the king of Babylon dreamed his troubling dream, he sought diligently for someone to tell him what he dreamed. Daniel came to him and told him that in his dream he saw the kingdoms of this world increase, decrease, and fall with the establishing of God’s eternal kingdom. Daniel ended his revelation by saying. Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
4. Our plans.
Every one of us ought to determine that we will have a part in this grand and eternal kingdom that was planned and designed by the Lord. A kingdom so great and grand that the only way to describe it is to say that eye has not seen neither has ear heard what the Lord has in store for those that love Him, 1 Cor 2:9.
If someone walked up to you and offered you a fortune and a kingdom at no cost to you other than to follow them in honesty, truth, and love, would you refuse? Certainly not. However, that is what untold millions have done with the kingdom offered by the Lord. They simply refused to follow Him. They had a better plan than His.
If you want in on this kingdom, it all begins with the new birth. That seed of life implanted in our heart is the key to developing our plans to be all that we can be for Him. What we lay in store for our portion of the kingdom depends on our service as a leader or a follower. Our plan ought to be one that will allow the Spirit of the Lord to make us fruitful in whatever position He has for us.
Every plan must have a starting point and time and there is no better time than right now.
B. Accomplishment.
Such was and is the great accomplishments of God so that in the endless ages of eternity future, we will still be enjoying His good pleasures, Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
1. Check up.
In order to maintain control of our plan, there must periodic checks made to ensure that progress is made and that the progress made is in tune with the long and short-term goals. If we fail to plan, we plan to fail. If we plan our work and work our plan, accomplishments will stand out as milestones for all to see.
2. Boldness.
Follow me. If we communicate to the world that we will follow Him, we must be bold and committed to carrying out our word, Eccl 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. God wants to take pleasure in our vows. If we vow to follow the Lord, and then fall by the wayside, we deny Him the pleasure of molding us, and delivering us from the evil devices of Satan. That is why Solomon said God has no pleasures in fools. God does not mold fools after Him for the fool does not believe in God. It takes a bold determined soul, one that counted the cost, to tell those about them they are determined to follow the Lord.
Who is on the Lord’s side was the called made by Moses, Exo 32:26, that day. Who will stand in the gap, Ezek 22:30? The Lord is looking for some one bold enough to send, Isa 6:8. Are you bold enough to endure hardness as a soldier for the Lord, 2 Tim 2:3? Are you bold enough to leave your life’s ambition and follow the Lord, Mat 4:20 ? Do you have the discipline to be a disciple of the Lord and follow wherever He leadeth?
SUMMARY:
You probably noted that this opening lesson dealt more with the qualities and characteristics of leadership than it did with the title of the series “Followers Make Good….” There is a reason for this in that it is necessary for the Christian to think of themselves as a leader in that each of us ought to be leading someone to the Lord as we follow Him.
If we are not leading lost souls to Him, we are driving them away. Such is why we must think of self as we did when we played that children’s game called “follow the leader.” If each of us would just follow the Leader, we would be able to look behind us and see those following in our footsteps as we follow His.
One day when we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ He is going to ask us did we follow Him all the way? Did we step in His footsteps or did we deviate here there along the way? If the scientist desires to have the lunar landing craft land at the precise spot on the moon, his calculation must be exact. If he is off by 10 to 12 degrees here on earth, imagine how far he misses the mark 400,000 miles away? How about millions of miles away? How far off did the scientist miss his landing site? If you were on that landing crafts, would you be concerned?
The testimony of Jesus Christ was upright, exactly 90 degrees. If we follow Him exactly our testimony will be as His. However, if we start out at 90 degrees and then we begin walking off at an 85 degree angle, imagine how far off we will be when we stand before Him? Followers make good examples.
Note:
(1) the local church as a visible body.
(2) The truth as a visible object--the bible
(3) The pillar of truth as an invisible object supported by the word of God. {It is rather difficult to think of a pillar suspended in space, not resting upon anything, and yet this invisible pillar is said to be supporting church.} The pillar and ground of truth is an optical illusion (in word form) best illustrates this idea.
The local church body is supported by the truth found in the words of God and the local church body also supports the words of God as being the truth. What we support it with is that invisible pillar called faith.
Think of a beach house. A beach house sets upon pillars. The pillars support the house and the house is supported by the pillars. What is it that supports the pillars? The ground.
1 Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
The church is the pillar and ground of the truth. The local church body is a visible object composed of living bodies. The pillar and the ground of the truth of which the church is grounded is invisible, save for the bible. The bible contains the visible words of God. The pillar, however, is as faith: invisible. And yet, this invisible pillar is supported by something, Job called it nothing (no thing) : Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
Creation is supported by the word of God. We believe this as the truth. The pillar and the ground are supported by the truth.
Pilate asked: what is truth? John 18:38 Jesus already answered the questions before it was asked: John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
