Principles Of Leadership Part 1 – By Pastor Dan Reed | Manna For Your Day

Dr. Dan Reed was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1951. He was saved at the Woodland Avenue Baptist Church in 1973 while studying engineering at Auburn University. Sensing the call to preach in 1973 he enrolled at Tennessee Temple College under the ministry of Dr. Lee Roberson. Finishing his B.A. in December of 1975 he was called to Emden, Missouri , a town of 61, to pastor the Community Baptist Church. Pastor Reed has started two churches and two Christian schools during his 33-year ministry. He is currently the pastor of Harvest Baptist Church of Acworth, Georgia. (Learn more about Dr. Reed HERE)
PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP
Part 1

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 29:1-7

Text: (Proverbs 29:2) “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”  (KJV)

Proverbs was written by a godly king who knew God’s principles of spiritual leadership. We are all leaders in some sphere and scripture teaches us how to use our leadership for God in a wise and spiritual way. There is a natural leadership and there is a spiritual leadership. Great leaders are not always spiritual leaders. For example, Saul was a natural, born leader. He was head and shoulders above the people and the people chose him as their leader because he had some ability. Yet, he was not God’s choice and when his weak character finally brought him down, God said, “I have chosen Me a man after my own heart.” David was not a natural for leadership. Samuel, when choosing God’s king, would have chosen all his brothers over him, but God chose David and said, “Man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

Every spiritual leader, whether pastor, deacon, Sunday School teacher, Christian school teacher, parent, or Christian on the job should periodically analyze their spiritual leadership. Just what is leadership anyway? Someone has said that leadership is seeing further down the road than others can. The best definition of leadership I ever heard is that leadership is simply “influence.” The more influence I have the more leadership I have. Godly leadership means godly influence. Solomon in Proverbs 29 shows us a number of principles regarding godly leadership.

(1) The greatest asset of a godly leader is his own personal godliness. 

Proverbs 29:2,7 show us this. “When the righteous are in authority…” “The righteous considereth the cause of the poor.” Solomon is talking about being in authority and he talks about a righteous man. A righteous man is one who has been made righteous in Christ and therefore is desirous to know and do God’s law. He is interested in being right and in tune with the Lord. His own personal walk with God is his most important asset. The reason for this is that we teach a little by what we say, more by what we do, but most by what we are. Jesus in the sermon on the mount emphasized this over and over by saying, “Blessed are the meek…blessed are the poor in spirit…blessed are the peacemakers.” You see what you are is what teaches more than what you say or do! Robert M. McCheyne, the great Scottish preacher said, “The life of a minister is the life of his ministry. My people’s greatest need is my own personal godliness.”  There simply is no substitute for personal godliness. Paul in speaking to the young preacher Timothy said, “Take heed to thyself…” In First Timothy 4:7 he said, “Exercise thyself to godliness.” So much today is window dressing. A good front in a spiritual leader only lasts until people get to know you pretty well. This is why Paul said, “Lay hands suddenly on no man…some men’s sins are open, going before to judgment; and other men, they follow after.” What he meant was that leadership should be proved by their character and therefore should not be chosen rashly.

How do you measure godliness? 

I think a good yardstick is what happens to people when they get really close to you. How do you impact them? Do people yearn to grow when they are around you? Does your life really impact people? Someone said, “You can instruct and inspire from a distance but you can only impact up close.”

The greatest impact of a parent on a child is by what that parent is on a day by day basis. The greatest impact of a pastor, school teacher, or coach is in their own personal life and godliness. So the greatest asset any spiritual leader has is his own personal walk with God!

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5387X: Vine"s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament WordsBy W.E. Vine / Thomas NelsonThis convenient one volume combines Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words and Unger and White’s Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament. This book allows you to easily access the alphabetized English equivalents of the Greek or Hebrew words from which they are translated. Throughout the text the most significant biblical words are illustrated by Scripture passages, comments, cross-references, ancient and modern meanings, precise etymologies, historical notes, and clearly defined technical information. Each original language is indexed, and the addition of a topical index allows you to access all the dictionary entries pertinent to specific New Testament ideas and teachings.Keyed to Strong’s.

A Man Of Integrity!

What would you do if you were made to look foolish in everyone’s eyes when you found out your fiance was pregnant? How would you react to the disbelief, shown by others, when you explained the situation was caused by God and not yourself? Hard questions, aren’t they? Well, put yourself in Joseph’s shoes for a minute. Whatever you think about this godly man, he had integrity! This sermon outline highlights some aspects of his character!

Title: “A Man Of Integrity!”

Text: Matthew 1:18-25

(Matthew 1:18-25) “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”  (KJV)

Introduction:

•    Much is said in sermons about Mary, the babe Jesus, the manger, the wise men, and shepherds, but very little is said about Joseph, probably because of the Scripture’s lack of mention of him.
•    He does not play a leading role in the Gospel accounts but we do find him playing an important one.
•    He is to raise this young man and love him as his own. It is hard to speculate what it must have been like seeing the little fellow growing up.
•    One does not want to be sacrilegious!
•    I want to point out a few things about Joseph that should help us learn about his integrity!

Proposition: There are five ingredients to Joseph’s character that reveal the amount of integrity that he had!

I.    He Loved And Honored His Wife!

(Matthew 1:19) “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”  (KJV)

(Ephesians 5:25) “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”  (KJV)

A.    Joseph could have shunned and publicly humiliated Mary when she was found with child.

B.    He loved her and showed that by giving honor to her.

C.    He treated her like he would want to be treated.

(Ephesians 5:28-29) “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”  (KJV)

D.    We can learn a lot from his acts of love.

II.    He Learned To Live Through Unexpected Hardships!

A.    It was before they were officially married that this unexpected problem came up.

B.    The measure of a man is seen by what it takes to stop him.

C.    He thought about the situation and no doubt prayed about everything!

(Matthew 1:20-23) “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”  (KJV)

D.    He trusted God to help give him direction. When they fled to Egypt, it was Divine direction that was followed.

III.    He Recognized His Redeemer!

A.    It is obvious that Joseph believed who his Redeemer was!

B.    Had he not accepted this, things would have turned out much differently!

C.    He believed the revelation given to him about his the child being Emmanuel, which is “God with us”!

IV.    He Obeyed God!

A.    Joseph’s is seen throughout the Gospel accounts of him as an obedient person.

B.    He obeyed in naming the child Jesus!

(Matthew 1:24-25) “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”  (KJV)

C.    He obeyed in protecting the child and fleeing to Egypt!

(Matthew 2:13-15) “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”  (KJV)

D.    He obeyed and came home, eventually by Providence would have it to Nazareth!

(Matthew 2:19-23) “But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”  (KJV)

V.    He Endured Criticism!

(John 8:40-42) “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.”  (KJV)

A.    These verses do not directly speak of Joseph being criticized, but the inference is made!

B.    It is apparent that many did not believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost!

C.    No where do you find Joseph be said to have fought back about it!

D.    Joseph endured the sly comments that were sure to have been said!

Conclusion:

To The Sinner:

•    Be saved!

To The Christian:

•    Let us work on our integrity!

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This present books brings Gibb’s encyclopedic knowledge of the subject within our reach. Gibb’s seriousness, thoroughness, energy, and urgency breath from this book. First entitled A Primer on Preaching, as Gibbs matured so his study of the sacred art of preaching grew. His final edition was completed just months before his sudden homecall in an auto accident enroute to Hamilton, Ontario, for a two week series of Gospel meetings.

What A Curse!

This is an outsourced post from Missionary Tony Howeth.

Brother Tony’s Bio:

Tony Howeth and his wife Stacey are the proud parents of four children…Seth (16), Lauryn (14), Ethan (12) and Camryn (8). This November 26th, they will have been married for 20 years. Tony has had the privilege of serving at Whitfield Baptist Church for 8 years, pastored Bemiss Road Baptist Church for 6 years and currently is in charge of the prefield work of missionaries representing Macedonia World Baptist Missions. Continue reading

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