LEADING PEOPLE TO GREATNESS
Part 1: “The Character Required”
“Go and make disciples of all nations ...” (Matthew 28:19a)
INTRODUCTION
What kind of character do we need if we are to lead others well? If we are to lead people to greatness – what kind of people do we need to be? Let’s look at three key areas of the leaders character.
First, you can lead people to greatness if you lead them ...
1. OBEDIENTLY
Jesus said ... “Come follow me” (Matthew 4:19)
Are you following Jesus?
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples (John 8:31).
In other words, we must let the Bible, the Word of God, have absolute control over our lives. It means actively seeking to bring every aspect of our lives into conformity with the teaching of the Bible. It means giving the leadership of our lives over to Jesus.
Who is your advisor when it comes to parenting? Who is your business coach? Your mentor? Your hero? Who is it you turn to for advice in life? Who or what holds greatest sway over your life? Who guides you? Or are you going it alone at the moment?
Jesus has a wonderful promise for you if you will follow him.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you (John 15:7).
Second, you can lead people to greatness if you lead them ...
2. LOVINGLY
Jesus gave his followers a new command. He said ...
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12-13).
Love has been called the mark of the Christian. Without love we are just wandering around in the darkness. The Lord puts it like this ....
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him (1 John 2:9-11).
Life is a search, but without love it lacks purpose and direction. Love for other people gives us a reason to live – a purpose to perform – a duty to discharge. You will never lead anyone to greatness unless you can love them genuinely.
The third characteristic you will need if you want to lead people to greatness is fruitfulness. You can lead people to greatness if you lead them ...
3. FRUITFULLY
Jesus said ...
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples (John 15:8).
What kind of fruit are you producing in the lives of those you lead? Will it last for eternity?
We live in a society where almost everyone wants to be successful and where many of us have personal plans for reaching this goal. What a shock it will be for many to discover that everything they have worked so hard to achieve in this life will simply be burnt up when Christ returns.
The Bible says that ...
.. the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (2 Peter 3:10).
Will your life and the investment of your life in leading people to greatness – will these last for eternity?
CONCLUSION
Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses.” He didn’t say you might be or your can be if you would like to – he said, “You will be my witnesses.” It’s a scary thought isn’t it? It’s comforting to know then, that just after Jesus also promised he would help us. If you know Jesus today, you are not alone ...
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
www.australindbaptistchurch.com
