CONTRADICTIONS
LESSON IV
SERVANT-LEADER
Matt. 20:24-28
October 29, 2006
DO YOU REMEMBER THE DEFINITION OF AN OXYMORON?
A SEEMINGLY CONTRADICTORY FIGURE OF SPEECH.
THE EXAMPLE WE USED WAS . . . DEAFENING SILENCE.
WE IN AMERICA LOVE TO BUTCHER THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY PUTTING WORDS TOGETHER THAT CONTRADICT ONE ANOTHER, AND YET WE SPEAK THEM AS IF IT’S THE PROPER USE OF BOTH WORDS.
HERE ARE SOME I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD IF NOT USED YOURSELF.
IT’S A . . . DEFINITE MAYBE.
YES, THIS IS AN . . . EXACT ESTIMATE.
I WAS GIVEN A . . . DETAILED SUMMARY.
HERE IS THE . . . ORIGINAL COPY.
HOW ABOUT A COUPLE OF OXYMORONIC STATEMENTS.
SOME PEOPLE SAY I’M SUPERFICIAL, BUT THAT’S JUST ON THE SURFACE.
IF THERE IS ONE THING I CAN’T STAND . . . IT’S INTOLERANCE.
WE ARE IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF A FIVE WEEK SERIES DEALING WITH CONTRADICTIONS.
WE’VE BEEN LOOKING AT APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS IN SCRIPTURE AND WE HAVE SEEN THEY ARE NOT CONTRADICTIONS AT ALL – THEY ARE POWERFUL TRUTHS TO LIVE BY.
– FREEDOM FROM SIN IS SLAVERY TO CHRIST.
– THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST.
– SURRENDER IS NOT LOSING.
TODAY OUR FOURTH LESSON IS AN APPARENT OXYMORON.
– SERVANT LEADER.
I WOULD LIKE TO USE A PORTION OF SCRIPTURE WE HAVE ALREADY USED FOR ONE OF OUR LESSONS BUT AS YOU WILL SEE IT APPLIES HERE AS WELL.
MATT. 20:24-28.
YOU KNOW THE STORY.
JAMES AND JOHN’S MOTHER ASKS JESUS IF HER SONS CAN SIT ON HIS RIGHT AND LEFT WHEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ESTABLISHED.
WHAT SHE WAS ASKING WAS, “CAN MY BOYS SIT IN A PLACE OF AUTHORITY?”
“CAN MY KIDS RULES OVER PORTIONS OF YOUR KINGDOM?”
FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE NOTICE JAMES AND JOHN WERE NOT INNOCENT BYSTANDERS AS THEIR MOTHER APPROACHES JESUS.
THEY WERE IN IT WITH HER. VERSES 22 AND 23 JESUS SAYS TO THE BROTHERS, DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU’RE ASKING?
THEY WERE IN ON IT.
SO THEN JESUS HAS TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT AND HE SAYS TO ALL THE DISCIPLES . . .
“LOOK GUYS, IF YOU WANT AUTHORITY AND LEADERSHIP LEARN TO SERVE AND STOP TRYING TO PUSH YOURSELF TO THE TOP.”
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS TYPE OF THING IN OUR LESSON “THE LAST WILL BE FIRST,” BUT THIS MORNING I WANT TO BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT BEING A LEADER.
I HAVE A TWO-FOLD PURPOSE TODAY.
1. TO SCARE PEOPLE AWAY FROM LEADERSHIP.
2. TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO BECOME TRUE LEADERS.
HOW IS THIS FOR KEEPING WITH OUR THEME OF CONTRADICTIONS?
LET’S SEE IF I CAN SCARE A FEW PEOPLE.
WHEN JESUS ASKED JAMES AND JOHN IF THEY COULD DRINK FROM HIS CUP IT WAS A METAPHOR FOR ASKING, “ARE YOU ABLE TO HANDLE ALL THAT COMES WITH LEADERSHIP?”
IN JESUS’ CASE HE WAS REFERRING TO SUFFERING AND DYING.
JAMES AND JOHN REPLIED, YES WE CAN DO IT.
WELL THEY DID. JAMES WAS MARTYRED AND JOHN WAS TORTURED AND DIED IN EXILE.
IT IS A TRUE STATEMENT WHEN I SAY, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR.
WITH LEADERSHIP COMES HARDSHIP.
ONE OF THE LONELIEST, MOST PAINFUL PLACES TO BE IS IN THE ROLE OF A LEADER.
THE FOLLOWER SEES THE DECISION MAKER, THE VISIONARY, THEY HEAR THE “DECLARATION”, THEY SEE THE PUBLIC PERSONA.
THE FOLLOWER SEES THE FORCEFUL ONE WHO IS LEADING AN ORGANIZATION.
OFTENTIMES FOLLOWERS WILL LOOK TO THE LEADER AND FANTASIZE ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE IN THAT ROLE.
BUT AGAIN, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR.
WHEN A LEADER MAKES A DECISION THERE ARE ALWAYS 2 REACTIONS BY THE FOLLOWERS.
COMFORT OR FRUSTRATION, MAYBE EVEN ANGER.
IF THE DECISION MAKES SOMETHING BETTER FOR ONE, THERE IS COMFORT.
BUT SINCE A DECISION ALSO INCONVENIENCES OR CHANGES WHAT ANOTHER IS DOING, THERE IS FRUSTRATION OR ANGER.
AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
MORE TIMES THAN NOT WHEN SOMEONE IS FRUSTRATED OR ANGRY THEY COMPLETELY FORGET ANY OF THE TIMES THE LEADER BROUGHT COMFORT.
JESUS HEALED THE SICK, RAISED THE DEAD, AND SPOKE LIFE.
THE SAME ONES WHO WITNESSED THE HEALING OF THE BLIND MAN STOOD BEFORE PILATE AND INSISTED THAT JESUS BE KILLED.
MOSES LED THE PEOPLE OUT OF BONDAGE, BUT KORIAH AND HIS CREW WANTED TO TAKE OVER AND GET RID OF GOD’S LEADER.
DAVID WAS A MIGHTY WARRIOR WHO DEFEATED THE ENEMIES OF GOD, BUT HE WAS ON THE RUN FOR HIS LIFE.
PAUL PREACHED THE WONDERFUL TRUTH OF SALVATION TO THE CORINTHIANS, BUT HE WAS LATER FORCED TO DEFEND HIS APOSTLESHIP TO THE SAME PEOPLE.
JESUS SAID TO JAMES AND JOHN, DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE ASKING?
THEY REPLIED, YES. BUT THEY DIDN’T HAVE A CLUE.
LEADERS AND THOSE WHO WANT TO BE LEADERS, IT’S ABOUT TO GET WORSE.
YOU SEE, IN SPITE OF THE WAY MOSES, JESUS AND PAUL WERE TREATED THEY WERE STILLED CALLED TO BE SERVANT LEADERS.
MOSES PLEADS BEFORE GOD NOT TO DESTROY THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO TAKE HIM OUT.
JESUS SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR THOSE WHO HATED HIM.
PAUL ENDURED A LIFE OF HARDSHIP SO PEOPLES’ LIVES COULD BE TOUCHED WITH THE GOSPEL.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT PEOPLE DO OR SAY, IF YOU’RE CALLED TO LEAD YOU MUST LEAD AND BE A SERVANT.
IF YOU LEAD, YOUR TIME IS NOT YOUR OWN.
IF YOU LEAD, YOU MUST RESPOND TO THE CRISES EVEN IF YOU’RE INCONVENIENCED.
IF YOU LEAD, YOU MUST CONTINUE TO LEAD EVEN THOUGH YOU YOURSELF ARE IN PAIN.
IF YOU LEAD, YOUR PERSONAL STRUGGLES DO NOT EXEMPT YOU FROM FULFILLING THE ROLE GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO.
IF YOU LEAD, YOUR PERSONAL RESOURCES DO NOT BELONG TO YOU.
IF YOU LEAD, ANYTHING YOU HAVE MUST BE USED TO HELP THOSE WHO FOLLOW YOU. IF THERE IS A NEED AND YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT CAN MEET THAT NEED, THE SERVANT LEADER GIVES IT.
IF YOU LEAD, YOU MUST CONTINUE TO LOVE THOSE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY BECAUSE OF A DECISION YOU MADE.
THIS IS SO HARD, BUT MOSES, JESUS AND PAUL ARE ALL OUR EXAMPLES.
LEADERS AND THOSE WHO WANT TO BE LEADERS, SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS BE MAD AT YOU.
SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS DISAGREE WITH YOU.
SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS THINK IT’S ALL ABOUT THEM AND NOT REMEMBER YOU’RE LEADING A GROUP AND NOT JUST ONE PERSON.
SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS POINT OUT WHAT THEY DON’T LIKE.
SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS ASK FOR WHAT YOU HAVE.
SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS WANT YOU GONE.
BUT THE SERVANT LEADER DOES NOT RETALIATE OR QUIT.
THE SERVANT LEADER KEEPS LEADING.
AND JESUS SAID TO THEM, CAN YOU DRINK THE CUP I AM GOING TO DRINK?
I HAVE JUST GIVEN EVERY LEADER REASON TO QUIT.
AS OF 9:00 AM MONDAY MORNING THERE WILL NOT BE A SINGLE LEADER LEFT IN THIS CHURCH.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK I’LL QUIT AFTER HEARING THIS SERMON.
Q: IF ALL THIS IS TRUE, WHY LEAD?
IF ALL THIS IS TRUE WHY WOULD THERE BE THE SECOND POINT THIS MORNING? TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO BECOME LEADERS.
LEADER AND POTENTIAL LEADERS PLEASE HEAR ME.
WITHOUT MOSES THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WOULDN’T HAVE ENJOYED THE PROMISED LAND.
WITHOUT JESUS THERE WOULD NO BE NO SALVATION.
WITHOUT THE APOSTLE PAUL MOST OF THE RICH THEOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WOULDN’T EXIST.
HEBREWS 12:2 SAYS, LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS . . .
JOY OF WHAT. HOW CAN JOY AND CROSS BE PUT IN THE SAME SENTENCE – IT’S A CONTRADICTION.
NO IT’S NOT. BECAUSE THE CROSS IS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE AND WHEN PEOPLE’S LIVES ARE CHANGED BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IT ERASES ALL THE PAIN OF WHAT OTHERS MAY CAUSE.
WHEN YOU CONTINUE ON AFTER THE JAB OF THE ANGRY AND YOU FINALLY SEE A LIFE TURNED AROUND OR THE LIGHT BULB GO ON IN SOMEONE ELSE OR SOMETHING YOU’VE PRAYED FOR YEARS FINALLY BECOMES REALITY, IT’S ALL WORTH IT.
LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT PEOPLE AND WHEN PEOPLE RESPOND TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT.
HAVING SAID THIS LET ME MAKE A POINT I DON’T THINK IS EXPECTED.
THERE IS NOT A PERSON HERE GOD IS NOT CALLING TO BE A LEADER.
IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW YOUNG YOU ARE OR HOW OLD YOU ARE, YOU ARE CALLED TO BE A LEADER.
AND THERE ISN’T A PERSON HERE TODAY WHO CAN’T BE A FANTASTIC LEADER.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SERVE SOMEONE.
BACK TO THAT VERY FAMILIAR PASSAGE IN PHIL. 2:1-4.
1IF YOU HAVE ANY ENCOURAGEMENT FROM BEING UNITED WITH CHRIST, IF ANY COMFORT FROM HIS LOVE, IF ANY FELLOWSHIP WITH THE SPIRIT, IF ANY TENDERNESS AND COMPASSION, 2THEN MAKE MY JOY COMPLETE BY BEING LIKE-MINDED, HAVING THE SAME LOVE, BEING ONE IN SPIRIT AND PURPOSE. 3DO NOTHING OUT OF SELFISH AMBITION OR VAIN CONCEIT, BUT IN HUMILITY CONSIDER OTHERS BETTER THAN YOURSELVES. 4EACH OF YOU SHOULD LOOK NOT ONLY TO YOUR OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO TO THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS.
WHEN WE START TO SERVE OTHERS, LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS, NOT WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT OURSELVES WE BECOME LEADERS.
LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT A HIGH POSITION. LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT SERVING PEOPLE.
LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO. LEADERSHIP IS HELPING PEOPLE DO IT.
WHEN MY SON WAS 20 YEARS OLD HE WAS MADE A SUPERVISOR OF 30 AND 40 YEAR OLDS.
WHY? BECAUSE HE DID MORE THAN REQUIRED. BECAUSE HE HELPED AND SERVED OTHERS. BECAUSE HE WAS SEEN AS SOMEONE WHO COULD BE COUNTED ON. BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUS TO THOSE WATCHING THAT JUSTIN DID NOT LIVE AS IF EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT HIM.
PEOPLE OF GOD, LEAD. LEAD STRONG, LEAD CONFIDENTLY. LEAD FORCEFULLY. LEAD DAILY.
HOW? SERVE SOMEONE, GIVE TO SOMEONE AND WATCH HOW THAT IMPACTS THEIR LIFE AND WATCH HOW IT IMPACTS YOUR LIFE.
HUSBANDS, LET US SERVE OUR WIVES AND WATCH HOW MUCH EASIER IT IS TO BE THE HEAD OF OUR HOMES.
EMPLOYEE, SERVE YOUR CO-WORKERS AND WATCH HOW MUCH MORE PLEASANT THE WORK ENVIRONMENT IS AND HOW OTHERS FOLLOW YOUR EXAMPLE – WHICH MEANS YOU’RE A LEADER.
STUDENT, BE A FRIEND AND SERVE THE OUTCAST AND WATCH HOW YOU CAN CHANGE A PERSON’S LIFE AND HOW YOUR CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE INCREASES – WHICH MEANS YOU’RE A LEADER.
SERVANT–LEADERSHIP. AN OXYMORON OR VITAL TRUTH?
