Threat to Power

"It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. The women sang as they played, and said, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.' Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, 'They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?' Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on." -1 Samuel 18.6-9

The Spirit of God has departed from Saul and descended upon David. When Saul sees that the people are beginning to favor David he begins to look at David with suspicion. At that point he begins to try to eliminate David, the threat to his kingdom. He personally tries to kill him, and when that attempt is unsuccessful he tries to set him up to be killed in battle. All of his attempts fail because God is with David.

How do we handle those we perceive to be a threat to our power? I'm guessing that no one reading this is not dealing with a physical throne being taken away from them, but what about a threat to your job? The youth pastor is favored over the lead pastor. This person has great success at work and is quickly climbing the corporate ladder. This new teachers classes are always fuller than the older classes. Name your situation. What is your reaction in that moment?

Looking at Saul, he desperately clung to power, and tried to do everything he could to remove the threat. He was unsuccessful because he was trying to eliminate God's chosen leader. Not every situation will be this drastic, but how do we handle the ones that aren't? Ministry is my area, and so that is where I will focus, but the concept is applicable across the board. Too many pastors stay in leadership longer than they should and do damage to the Kingdom. They refuse to share the pulpit because the youth pastor might be more popular. In some cases the youth pastor may even be fired to protect the pastor's ego.

Men, we are not going to live forever, and we cannot stay in power forever. We were not intended to. There is a time for us to take the lead, and also a time for us to step down. In one sense we must work ourselves out of a job by training up the future leaders. We can perceive them as a threat and then spend our remaining time fighting it, destroying their reputations and futures, at the expense of our own ministry. Or we can take the opportunity to help prepare them to take the lead. That is the way God intended for it to be done.

Let us be men who do not desperately cling to power, and work to eliminate every threat to our rule. Let us be men who work to prepare the next generation of leaders so that the Kingdom can continue to advance.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Taking the Lead

"Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 'Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.'" -Joshua 1.1-4

The time has come for Joshua to take on the leadership of Israel. Moses has fulfilled his role and God has taken him. Now God instructs Joshua to rise up and lead the people into their inheritance. What must have been going through his mind at this moment?

I remember when I took my first role as a lead pastor. I did not have the pressure of following in the footsteps of Moses, but at the time I was only 24, and stepping into a congregation that was made up mostly of people my grandparent's age. At first their was excitement about finally being able to do what I was called to do, and I thought it would be the first step in a bright future. Then there was the uncertainty. Having never done this before, not having a full grasp on everything that I would need to do, made me hesitant to even look for a position like this. And then there was my second Sunday on the job. I was called to the hospital to be with a family who didn't know if a husband, father, and grandfather was going to make it through the night. It was an overwhelming moment and I'll admit that I broke down and cried privately.

I was only responsible for a group of about forty, not over a million. I didn't have to follow the greatest leader Israel had ever known. But God had called me to lead, and to an extent I think I can relate to Joshua.

I'm sure there was some excitement, the time had come to enter the land, and he would get to lead the people forward. I'm sure he felt uncertain about leading such a multitude of people, following such a great leader. I'm sure the must have been a moment when he broke down in an overwhelming moment. But Joshua took the lead. He didn't rush forward in excitement, he waited for God. He didn't shrink back because of the unknown, or flee because of how big the job was. He listened to God, and moved forward.

Men, what happens when we are called to take the lead? Do we jump in with both feet out of sheer excitement, not pausing to consider the best course of action or even survey the situation? Do we look at the task at hand where we look at how inadequate we are either because of the job or the shoes we'll have to fill, and hide from the call? Do we look at the difficulty and simply run away, refusing to play the part God has called us to because it is too hard? Or do we wait for God to speak, trust Him, and move forward taking the lead by following Him?

God has created men to lead, and calls each of us to some form of leadership. Let us be men who patiently, and humbly take the lead. Let us not be too excited that we fail to count the cost. Let us not be afraid and refuse to act. Let us not be overwhelmed and run away. Let us trust God, depend on God, and take the lead.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Not Done

"Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Command the sons of Israel and say to them,'" -Numbers 28.1-2a

Joshua has been commissioned as the next leader, but he hasn't taken over yet. He has been given some of Moses' authority, and the transition is underway, but Moses is still involved. God is still speaking to him and giving him instructions for the people. Just because a new leader has been appointed, it doesn't mean that the old leader is done.

Again, I think about the situation that took place a few years back at church. Most of the time a pastor who follows a long term pastor at a church usually isn't there too long. There are exceptions, but they are rare. With church, the founding pastor was handing over leadership to a younger man who would be able help the church continue to grow. They didn't find the right candidate and then hand it over the following Sunday. Instead they underwent nearly two years of transition, with the founding pastor gradually handing over authority and responsibilities. And two years in, it seems to have worked very well.

Too often men hand over leadership and then head to retirement, or simply the next assignment. It's as if the old organization is now on their own and the new guy has to come up with structure and vision immediately. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. What if instead, there was always a leadership transition like this? What if it was a gradual thing that allowed the new guy to learn from the experienced leader, and allowed the old leader to not simply drop it and move on?

Men, where do you find yourself? Are you in to process of moving into a leadership role? What about moving out of one? Are you moving to something bigger? Are you wrapping up and preparing for retirement? Just know that wherever you are, you aren't done. If you are blessed to be able to transition like this, take advantage of it, learn from it. If not, then draw closer to God and let Him guide you during your transition as you learn. If you are headed out of a role or into retirement, know that you are not done. God will still use you if you let Him.

Moses wasn't done being used by God. His time was short, but he was still breathing. God was using him as Joshua was being prepared. As long as you are still breathing, you are not done.

May we always be willing to be used by God. May we never be done.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor