Poor leadership

Poor Leadership Characteristics

Acts 26:1

"Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:"

When Paul was tried for the accusations against him, he faced several different leaders. Most of these leaders exemplified poor leadership characteristics. Paul was no doubt the greatest leader of them all. Paul should have been in their shoes instead of standing before them being tried. Let me show you the poor leadership characteristics of these men so that you can avoid them.

The first poor leadership characteristic is leading by ignorance. Acts 23:2 says, "And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth." Ananias responded out of ignorance and not by knowing the whole situation. Paul simply made a comment about living his life with a good conscience to which Ananias had someone smite him for that comment. Ananias should have listened to the truth about Paul's life instead of making a decision through ignorance. I have found there are leaders who don't want to know the whole truth about situations. This is sad because you cannot properly lead and make right decisions without knowing the whole truth. Part of being a leader is learning the whole truth about situations so that you can make the right decisions. Leaders who live in ignorance are poor leaders.

The second poor leadership characteristic is leading by convenience. Felix said in Acts 24:25, "...when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." Many leaders only want to handle situations that are convenient to their detriment. Leadership is not always going to be convenient. If you are going to lead, you are going to have to handle inconvenient situations. It's not easy to handle inconvenient situations, but good leaders will handle them.

The third poor leadership characteristic is leading by popularity. In Acts 25:9, Festus kept Paul bound because it made the people happy. You will often see politicians who lead by whatever the polls say. This is poor leadership. Leadership does what is right even when it is not popular. If you want to be popular and liked by everyone, then you best not hold a leadership position. Leaders will have to do things that are not always popular. Leaders will find there will be times of loneliness because of decisions they have to make. They will be second guessed, but good leaders will do what is right even when it is not popular.

The fourth poor leadership characteristic is leading by indecision. Agrippa said in Acts 26:28, "...Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." I have found there are some leaders who just can't pull the trigger and make a decision. They lead by indecision which frustrates their followers. Part of leadership is making decisions. Indecision is just as bad as making bad decisions. If you are going to be a good leader, then you must learn to make decisions, even if they are difficult.

The last poor leadership characteristic that we see is leading for gain. In Acts 24:26, Festus left Paul bound because he hoped that Paul would give him money to let him go. One of the greatest mistakes I see leaders make is to look for what they can get out of their position. You are not to lead to see what you can get out of your followers, but you are to lead to see what you can put into them.

Everyone is a leader in some area. Wherever you lead, don't let these poor leadership characteristics be indicative of your leadership. If you find yourself leading with one of these characteristics, then do your best to change that area so you can better help your followers.

Handpicked

Handpicked by God

Acts 9:15

"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:"

Throughout the Scriptures you will read that God chose people to do a work for Him. What is interesting about the Apostle Paul is that He understood that he was a chosen vessel, and he lived like one. Let me remind you that God has made you a chosen vessel.

To be a chosen vessel means several things. First, it means that you were handpicked by God. In other words, God picked you because He liked you for something more than anyone else. I understand that we are sinners saved by the grace of God, but to understand that God handpicked you can help you gain the confidence that God loves you. You may think that you are no one special, but that simply is not true. When God looked on the shelves of life, He saw you among all the other vessels and handpicked you.

Second, it means that God handpicked you because you were the most appropriate to do something for Him. You will notice that God chose Paul to bear His name to the Gentile world. Likewise, God handpicked you because you were the most appropriate choice for a task that He called you to do. Nobody can do that task that you were chosen to do like you can. Certainly, somebody can do your job, but they will never be able to do it like you can.

Let me illustrate. Have you ever worked on something and needed a part or a screw to finish the job but didn't want to go to the store to get that part? I have found myself in that position many times. A while back my riding lawn mower lost a screw that holds the steering wheel in place. Instead of going to the store and getting the right part, I used a plastic tie to tighten the wheel. Yes, it worked, and it keeps the steering wheel from moving around, but it is not as secure as the screws would make it.

When God handpicked you to do a certain job and you don't fulfill that job, you are making God use plastic ties to replace your job. Yes, it will work, but it will not work to the degree that it could if you would do what God handpicked you to do. Don't ever underestimate your importance to God. He handpicked you for a task, and you are the only one who can fulfill that task the best.

Third, it means that you should use your vessel to do what God wants you to do and not what you want to do. Too many Christians soil their vessel with sin, and they hurt their capability to do what God wants them to do. Christian, remember that your body belongs to God. It is a chosen vessel that should only be used for that for which it was made. Don't use your vessel for the world's pleasures, but keep your vessel clean so that God can use it to the greatest capacity.

Being a chosen vessel of God is special. Don't ever forget that God handpicked you for a special task. Find that task and fulfill it. Don't let anything pull you away from what God handpicked you to do. Though others may be able to fill in your task, nobody can do it like you can. Be the vessel that God intended for you to be. Make God proud that He handpicked you by doing what He picked you to do.

Friend?

Are You a Friend?

Luke 11:5

"And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;"

One of the signs of a person maturing in Christ is whether their focus is upon themselves or on others. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, you will notice that He spent more time showing them how to pray for others than He did in showing them how to pray for themselves. Jesus talked about a man whose friend came to him late at night and was hungry. This man was so concerned about feeding his friend, that he went to a neighbor and asked for bread so that he could feed his friend. This man wasn't concerned with the lateness of the hour, because he was concerned about the need of a friend. Because this man wouldn't stop asking, his neighbor gave him bread so that he would leave him alone.

A true friend is one who learns to pray for others. There are many people who have no problem praying for themselves, but if you were to look at their prayer life it is a very selfish one. Just like your life will not realize satisfaction until you start living for others, likewise your prayer life will seem unfulfilled until you begin to pray for others. The greatest prayer life that you could have is a prayer life for others.

Let me ask you, are you a true friend in your prayers? Look at your prayer life and see how often you pray for others. I believe your prayer life will often reveal how good of a Christian you are. You may be able to put on a facade in front of others to impress them, but the true test of your Christianity is found in the prayer closet and how much you pray for others. It is rare to find people who even have a prayer life, but it is even more rare to find people who truly pray for others. The degree that you pray for others is the degree of your friendship to others.

You will notice in this verse that this man prayed for the needs of his friend in a greater degree than he prayed for his own needs. Let me explain by using myself as an illustration. I am not one who finds it easy to ask others to help me with my needs. I've had people tell me it's too much pride, and I don't know if that is true, but I know I have a hard time asking for myself. However, I have no problem asking for others. If I see that someone has a need I can't meet, I will do my best to find someone who can and ask them. I believe God wants you to be more concerned with the needs of others than your own needs. God has already promised to meet your needs, so most of your prayer life should be for the needs of others.

Furthermore, your prayers for others should be as passionate if not more passionate than your prayers for yourself. The man in this story asked late at night, and wouldn't stop asking until he got the answer for which he was looking. Do you stay up late or rise early to pray for others? Are you as fervent about the needs of others as you are for your own needs? Do you continue to pray passionately for the needs of others until their need is met? Your answer to all of these questions should be "Yes." A true friend is one who will pray until the needs of their friend are answered.

So, let me ask you, are you a true friend? Can others truly depend on you praying for their needs? There are many times when you are asked to pray for others. Do you follow through on those requests? Christian, don't just promise someone you will pray for them, but truly pray for them. If you give your word that you will pray for others, then keep your promise. There is nothing wrong with praying for your needs, but let your prayer life become one that is filled more with prayers for others than with your own needs. Make your prayer life a selfless one. Become that person who prays more for others than for yourself.

Reaching

Reaching the Harvest

Luke 10:2

"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."

The theme of the New Testament is one of winning souls to Jesus Christ. It starts in the Gospels as we read about the life of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death, burial and resurrection. It continues when Jesus commissioned the church to reach the lost for Christ. The urgency is revealed in the Book of Revelation when we see that Jesus will come for those who are saved. As Christians we have a great task to reach the harvest of souls. I find in Luke 10 that there are seven things needed to reach the harvest for Jesus Christ.

First, you must see the need. Jesus said the need is "great" but that there are "few" laborers to reach this harvest. You will never be a successful soul winner until you lift your eyes and see the harvest all around you. There is a harvest where you work and live. There is a harvest everywhere you go. Christian, people are the harvest, and you must see the great need of the harvest.

Second, you must pray for laborers. There is a reason why we are commanded to pray for laborers. The reason is so that we will fulfill the Great Commission. It is not just leading people to Christ, but it is also discipling those whom we lead to send out to be laborers themselves. Don't cut your vision short! See the need for laborers and realize that need can only be fulfilled when you wholly follow the Great Commission.

Third, if you are going to reach the harvest, then you must go. Verse 3 says, "Go your ways: behold I send you..." Christian, God sends YOU to reach the harvest. You can see the need, preach about the need, teach about the need in your Sunday school, talk about the need in your church, but the greatest need is for you to go. We will not reach this great harvest unless you go. You must take responsibility and go if the harvest is going to be reached.

Fourth, you must learn to have dialogue with those who need to be saved. Verse 7 talks about going into the house of those who are the harvest. In other words, spend time talking with those whom God sends your way. Simply put, become a person who talks to everyone, and you will find those someone's who are ready to hear the Gospel. When you learn to have dialogue with everyone, then you will find that you will have an opportunity to witness to just about anyone.

Fifth, you must stay focused to reach the harvest. Verse 4 shows us the need of being focused. Don't let things sidetrack you from reaching the harvest. Don't let people get you off message when you are witnessing. Stay focused on reaching the harvest.

Sixth, you must be willing to accept rejection if you are going to reach the harvest. Verse 10 shows us that we will be rejected. Let me be honest with you, everyone is not going to accept you. There will be many who won't want to listen to you. You must be willing to be rejected if you are going to reach the harvest. If rejection will cause you to quit, then you will not be successful in reaching the harvest. You must understand that they rejected Christ, and if they rejected Him they will reject you.

Finally, you must have the power of God to reach the harvest. Jesus says in verse 19, "Behold, I give unto you power..." You will never reach the harvest under your own power. You MUST have the power of God to reach this great harvest.

Christian, this great harvest will never be reached without you. I challenge you to become a part in reaching the lost for Christ. If you are actively a part in reaching the lost, then step up your efforts so we don't lose the harvest that God has given us.

Embarrassing

Dealing with Embarrassing Situations

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."

Everybody has embarrassing situations that happen in their life. Parents are sometimes embarrassed because of the shameful actions of their children. Sometimes children are embarrassed because of their parent's shameful actions. A spouse is sometimes embarrassed because of something their spouse did. At some point everybody will deal with a situation in their life that is hard to deal with and very embarrassing.

Joseph faced an embarrassing situation when he found out that Mary was pregnant. You must realize that Joseph did not know that the Holy Spirit had placed the seed inside Mary. All he knew was that he was engaged to her, and he received word that she was pregnant. Imagine how embarrassed he felt when he found out she got pregnant while he was engaged to her. Though we know that this was of God, Joseph didn't. How he dealt with this embarrassing situation should be a lesson to everyone who goes through embarrassing times.

You will first notice that Joseph didn't react. It would have been very easy for Joseph to react. If Joseph reacted, he would have had Mary killed. If that would have happened, the eternity of all mankind would have been ruined. Just because you are embarrassed doesn't mean you should react. You don't know who will be impacted by your reactionary decision. Whenever you are embarrassed, be deliberate with your actions and not reactionary.

You will also notice that Joseph took time to decide what he should do. When embarrassing situations happen, you should take time to allow your emotions to settle down. Most of the time you don't have to make an immediate decision. This is why you need to take time to decide what you should do. If you rush into a decision, that decision most likely will be based off emotions. Normally, emotional decisions will lead to heartache. You've already been embarrassed, don't add more heartache to your embarrassment.

Furthermore, Joseph didn't attack Mary when he felt embarrassed. It would have been so easy for Joseph to attack her publicly and have her humiliated and even killed, but he was wise in not attacking. Just because someone embarrassed you does not mean you should attack them. Normally embarrassment happens because of sin. Instead of attacking the person, you should be more interested in trying to figure out a way to restore them. Attacking will only cause the situation to get worse. Don't ever let embarrassing situations cause you to attack someone else.

Finally, I believe Joseph took time to pray. In verse 20, the Holy Ghost came to Joseph with a message from God. I believe this happened because he spent time in prayer. Christian, whenever you are embarrassed, fall on your knees before God and pour out your situation to Him. If you are going to be reactionary in any area, then make prayer your first reaction to any situation. Only God can take your situation and make it better.

Has someone embarrassed you? Has someone caused you pain because of an indiscretion? Let Joseph's actions when he was embarrassed be your guide on how to deal with your embarrassing moments. We are the benefits of Joseph's right actions. You will never how much your actions will benefit or hurt people in the present and future. So, be sure to act in such a way that years down the road your actions will be looked at in the same manner that we look at Joseph's actions.