GOD RESPONDS TO EVIL LEADERS

I Chronicles gives the report on a very evil king of Judah [the southern kingdom]. His name was Ahaz and he was twenty when he became king. His father, Jotham, had been a weak leader who tried to do right and accomplished some things of significance, but he failed to restrain or impact the people who pushed right on in their lives of corruption. [II Chronicles 27:2 ™]. However, In God’s eyes he lived a good life… [II Chronicles 27:2  -  All quotes from The Message Bible unless otherwise noted].

A REMINDER:

Leaders bear responsibility for all who are under their influence! And God sees it all!  And sometimes, God responds! 

This is true for leaders at ALL levels: presidents, ambassadors, chairpersons, foremen, superintendents, pastors, executives, and even group leaders.  When we step into a role that impacts other people’s lives directly, we are held to a higher standard.

 II Chronicles 28:1 reports: He (Ahaz) didn’t live right in the eyes of God. His bad choices include:

ü  Casting metal figurines for worshipping the pagan Baal gods

ü  Burning incense inappropriately

ü  “passing his sons through the fire, a truly abominable thing he picked up from the pagans GOD had earlier thrown out of the country [v.3].

ü  He also joined in the activities of the neighborhood sex-and-religion shrines that flourished all over the place

God saw all of this and responded by allowing the king of Aram to beat Ahaz’s forces badly – taking many prisoners back to Damascus. This defeat caused the king of Israel [northern kingdom] to also attack Judah. Their armies killed 120,000 Judeans in one day all of them first-class soldiers, and all because they had deserted GOD [v.6]. In addition, Ahaz’s son, also the palace steward and the king’s second in command were killed! Then, to add insult to injury, the Israelites carried off 200,000 men, women and children along with cartloads of plunder!

But – as we said earlier – God sees it all!

As the Israelite army crossed back into Israel, God had a prophet in the neighborhood who met them at the border with a message from God:  [vs.9-11]

God’s prophet Oded…met the army when it entered Samaria and said, “Stop right where you are and listen! God, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah and used you to punish them; but you took things into your own hands and used your anger, uncalled for and irrational, to turn your brothers and sisters from Judah and Jerusalem into slaves. Don’t you see that this is a terrible sin against your God? Careful now; do exactly what I say—return these captives, every last one of them. If you don’t, you’ll find out how real anger, God’s anger, works.”

A number of Israelite elders also responded: Don’t bring the captives here! We’ve already sinned against GOD; and now you’re about to compound our sin and guilt… [v.13].

As a result, Personally designated men gathered the captives together, dressed the ones who were naked using clothing from the stores of plunder, put shoes on their feet, gave them all a square meal, provided first aid to the injured, put the weak ones on donkeys, and then escorted them to Jericho, the City of Palms, restoring them to their families. Then they went back to Samaria [v.15].

After all of this, Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help, but instead, he came and humiliated Ahaz even more. Ahaz raided the Temple of God and paid it to the king of Assyria. In addition, the Philistines captured cities in the south and west of Judah!

BUT IN SPITE OF ALL OF THIS TROUBLE, Arrogant King Ahaz, acting as if he could do without God’s help, unleashed an epidemic of depravity…at the very time that everyone was turning against him, he continued to be against GOD [v.19]!

He:

o   began to worship the Assyrian gods since they had led to his defeat

o   he cleared out anything of value from The Temple and boarded up its doors!

o   he set up pagan shrines all over Jerusalem and throughout the country

THE RESULT?

And was GOD ever angry  [v.25]!

HOW DOES THIS ALL END?

When Ahaz died, they buried him in Jerusalem, but he was not honored with a burial in the cemetery of the kings.

IS THERE ANY GOOD NEWS HERE AT ALL?

Only this, His son Hezekiah was the next king…he was a good king; he kept to the standards of his ancestor David [v.27 and II Chronicles 29:2].

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WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS HISTORICAL LESSON?

For whatever reasons, Ahaz was evil from the start and never repented or softened toward God!

1.    Utterly rejecting and opposing God can only end badly!

2.    If a leader openly and rebelliously opposes God, s/he will suffer as will all those who are under their direction!

3.    God is ALWAYS WATCHING! Nothing can be hidden from His sight!

4.    God advocates on behalf of those who suffer because of poor leadership! He loves His people and comes to their aid!

Perhaps you made even more observations from this horrible man’s life…

THE SINS OF LEADERS

In I Chronicles 15 we read of the majestic manner by which David brought the Chest of the Covenant of God into Jerusalem.  David was initially pleased but then had a discomforting thought:

After the king had made himself at home, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look at this: Here I am comfortable in a luxurious palace of cedar and the Chest of God sits under a tent.”  [I Chronicles 17:1 -  All quotes from the Message Bible unless otherwise noted]

God seems pleased with David’s idea of building a temple, but then decides that this task should be accomplished by David’s heir to the throne – one of his sons [Solomon].  God’s reasoning for this decision is exposed in a later passage:

“You’ve killed too many people, fought too many wars. You are not the one to honor me by building a sanctuary – you’ve been responsible for too much killing, too much bloodshed.”  [I Chronicles 22:8]

God assures David of how pleased He is by promising to make David famous, “ranked with the great names on earth”  [v.8].  Then God proceeds to give David and Joab [his commander] many sequential victories over:

o   the Philistines

o   the Moabites

o   Hadadezer the king of Zobah

o   the Arameans, and

o   the Edomites.

Chapter 18:14 declares: Then David ruled over all of Israel. He ruled well, fair and evenhanded in all his duties and relationships.

HOWEVER, notice the opening words of chapter 21:

Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census of Israel.

Satan fans the flame of David’s pride!  Suddenly, he needs to know how many people he is ruler over!  His commander, Joab, immediately sees that this is a waste of time and resources. He courageously speaks his mind to David, but David ignores his counsel and persists with his command.

GOD IS NOT HAPPY WITH DAVID!  He sends Gad, David’s pastor, with a message:

“You have your choice of three punishments; choose one and I’ll do the rest.

Do you want three three years of famine, three months of running from your enemies while they chase you down, or three days of the sword of God – an epidemic unleashed on the country by an angel of God? Think it over and make up your mind.”   [21:10-12]

David responded immediately:

“I’d rather be punished by GOD whose mercy is great, than fall into human hands.”  [21:13]

The resulting plague caused the death of 70,000 Israelites before a special sacrifice by David halted the work of the angel!

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Leadership is encumbered with responsibility!  The one making decisions that impact others must think carefully and choose wisely!

For those of us who follow Christ, however, there is another factor: Satanic opposition! 

Leaders must be on-guard 24/7! They are ALWAYS vulnerable – especially when things are prospering!  The blessing of God triggers the temptation of Satan!  David fell prey to Satan’s prideful temptation, and 70,000 Israelites paid the price for him dropping his guard!

Leadership can be a burden! The responsibility can be heavy!

David had surrounded himself with good people, but then he failed to take the advice of Joab. Good leaders remain accountable!  They recruit individuals who can ask them the tough questions at any time! They seek accountability! They maintain close relationships with peers and older, wiser leaders of the same (or greater) stature!  They recognize their vulnerability!

When a leader falls – inevitably others WILL BE HURT, SHOCKED, DISAPPOINTED AND DISILLUSIONED!  The fall-out is immeasurable! When the leader is a Christian, many will question their faith and possibly lose their spiritual direction! How tragic!

This is why the Bible encourages us to pray for our leaders!

 The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. [I Timothy 2:1-2]

 

Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear. [Romans 13:1-3]

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IF YOU’RE A LEADER:

Act responsibly!

Lean on God for direction and wisdom!

Find an accountability partner and meet with them regularly!

IF YOU’RE NOT A LEADER:

Pray for those who provide leadership!

Support them with your cooperation.

Don’t speak ill of your leaders! Rather, if you have problems or questions – go directly to them and share your thoughts appropriately and with respect.

GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN!

Exodus 14 is an amazing chapter!  It is clear from the beginning that God has a plan!  God always has a plan! 

As they escape Egypt, God – through Moses – tells the Israelites exactly where to camp next to the sea.  This is apparently a very vulnerable spot that will entice Pharaoh to attack to try to recover his slave nation.  God’s intent is to – one last time – show Pharaoh who is really God!  And that’s what happened.

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Eventually Pharaoh and his people realized what they had done.  They had – in one night – lost their entire force of slave labor!  He ordered up all of his chariots and quickly pursued the Israelites.  God was again working in Pharaoh’s heart, making him stubborn! 

The Egyptians caught up to Israel by the sea.  As the Israelites saw them coming, fear gripped many.  There were two responses to this immediate threat:

Some cried out in terror to God.  Others ran to Moses and complained in bitter sarcasm:  “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die?  What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt?  Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen?  Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt – we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness?’”  [vs.10-12]

TWO RESPONSES:

1.      Call out to God!

2.      Complain and blame!

There’s value in spending some time trying to determine which group you would have been in.  When the sky grows dark or the devastating news comes, do you call out to God or grumble and sulk?  This is a vital distinction.  The ones who are truly committed to God will know deep in their hearts that GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN!  And, they will trust in that plan! 

But notice the grace and mercy of God!  Even in this story, the grumblers are spared!  God is patient and kind and works diligently with His people to get them to believe and trust in Him.  He’s doing that with you – right now! 

Through all this threat, Moses believed!  He told the people, “'Don’t be afraid.  Stand firm and watch GOD do his work of salvation for you today.  Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again.  GOD will fight this battle for you.'  And then with a glance at the nay-sayers, he added, 'And you?  You keep your mouths shut!'”  [vs.13-14]

This is a vital lesson for leaders and pastors to learn.  Those who espouse negativity have to be silenced!  Negativity spreads like wildfire – it must be halted!  Negativity is NOT a faith environment!  Confrontation is awkward and hard!  Most pastors run from it instead of dealing with it!  As a result, the damage grows and the problems increase.  Being close to God and having had a glimpse of His plan allows us to stand strong and face the opposition with righteous zeal.  I learned - over time - that in most cases, the opposition folds in situations like this. 

What happens next is REMARKABLE!  The angel of God that has been leading them moves from in front of the Israelites to their back – along with the pillar of cloud that has been leading them.  Together, they take up this position of protection between the two camps – throwing light on the Israelites and darkness on the Egyptians!  God is unfolding His plan! 

Then, God tells Moses to hold his staff over the sea.  During the course of the night, an east wind dries up the sea and creates a walled walkway through the sea.  This wind is so persistent, that the people are able to cross the sea ON DRY LAND ALONG WITH ALL THEIR FLOCKS!  Once they’re all through, the angel and cloud move and the Egyptians hurry into the pathway through the sea.  But there are two problems:  The dung from all the flocks begins to clog their chariot wheels.  Also, God seems to allow some of the seawater to seep into the pathway.  The Egyptian forces bog down and get stuck!

TERROR STRIKES THEM!  They cry out: “Run from Israel!  GOD is fighting on their side and against Egypt!”  They begin to retreat.

At this moment, GOD instructs Moses to hold his staff over the sea again.  As he does so, the waters immediately break loose and flood the pathway.  Not one Egyptian survived! 

And all Israel stood in utter amazement as they watched the dead bodies of the Egyptians wash up on the shoreline.  They immediately realized the tremendous power that GOD brought against the Egyptians.  They were in reverent awe before GOD and trusted in GOD and his servant Moses. 

Notice that Moses’ stock has increased as a result of this supernatural intervention by GOD!  He had – under GOD’s direction – initiated this escape!  He had confronted Pharaoh repeatedly.  He had led them out of Egypt.  He had obeyed GOD throughout the process.  He had confronted the naysayers.  He had been faithful! 

UNGODLY LEADERS

Toward the end of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church, things get a bit uncomfortable. 

He is clearly planning a third visit to this church and aims to deal with some trouble-makers during his visit. 

As the founder of the church, he makes it clear that he intends to set things right during this visit.  He warns that bunch that keeps sinning over and over in the same old ways that he will deal with them harshly in the strength of Christ!  You’ll get the full force of Christ, don’t think you won’t. 

Since this letter is written to the church of God that is in Corinth [1:1], we can assume that there were people in the church who were not living out their faith genuinely before the Lord!  These belligerent non-believers were apparently proclaiming a faith that they didn’t really possess.  Their prominence in the governance of the church had become a problem, and Paul intended to confront them directly! 

It was in this context that Paul closes his letter with this recommendation:

⁵ Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. 

The Apostle recognizes the importance of genuine faith and the urgency of keeping it updated and fresh!  Those who are ‘drifting along’ cannot be allowed to be the major influencers in the life of the church!  And He intends to enforce this principle upon his visit!

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It’s still true today, you know.

Having led churches for four decades, I’ve also had to deal with church leaders who were not keeping their faith current and fresh.  In most cases, I realized that these leaders had, at one time, experienced an anointing from God.  However, they were trying to operate on that past anointing for far too long without receiving a fresh anointing.  Their faith was stale.  Personal desires and preferences were taking the place of what was best for the whole body of believers!  The results of this were almost always the same:  influence peddling, manipulation, intimidation, threats [the most common was to discontinue tithing], and bullying behavior.

Church members often kowtowed to this kind of behavior.  However, as the designated leader of the church, I had to stand strong.  Pastors who do so tend to pay a price!  Paul certainly paid a price!  His language in these last two chapters is full of dread and pain! 

Let it be said clearly and plainly:  the minister and lay leaders of a church must maintain integrity and spiritual accountability in order for a church to thrive!  Their lives are exemplary in every way!  And the pastor – through the strength and wisdom of Christ – is ultimately responsible to use the Word of God for teaching, reproof, correction, and for training in righteousness [II Timothy 3:16]. 

I wish we had a third letter to the Corinthian church.  It would be interesting to know how Paul’s visit went and what the results were.  The fact remains:  if the leadership are not walking closely to Christ and in harmony with His Word, the church cannot prosper and grow!!!!!

AN UNBROKEN EGG

Last night three members of our Pastoral Team (Linda Savaet, Liz Sargent, and Laurie Mahosky) led our monthly Team Leader Team meeting (we have twelve teams that lead our church)!

Linda, Laurie, Liz

As we entered, we were offered candy.  The color we chose determined the table where we were to sit.  The others at our table became our team!

Dennis Mansfield, Suzie Wiley, Zonda Haase

All the necessary ingredients for pizza were on the table.  After a brief devotional on teamwork, we were set free to build the perfect pizza.  [They were baked and served at the end of the evening].

Debbie VanArsdale and Debbie Haire

Then each team was given $150 in play money.  We were given the opportunity to purchase items in an auction.  We would use these items to build a recepticle into which we would drop an egg from our 'Eagle's Nest" (sound booth) - a ten foot drop!

VERY COMPETITIVE bidding took place for premium items like a five gallon bucket, some plastic shopping bags, bag of Easter egg grass, an old newspaper, and a box of rice crispees. 

Justin Sargent and Brady Sullivan

When the auction ended, we built our recepticles and moved to the Eagle's Nest where each team - in turn - dropped their egg (two times to eliminate ties).  Only one team dropped it twice without breaking the egg! 

One team resorted to prayer!

Then we went back to eat pizza and discuss how effectively we had worked together as teams.  Prizes were awarded and everyone helped clean up! 

It was a fantastic evening of learning about teamwork!


April Jacobsen, Hal Haire, Karen Sullivan

PEACEMAKERS DON'T MAKE GOOD LEADERS - II

[To make complete sense, read "Peacemakers Don't Make Good Leaders" first.]

I've come to realize that a big part of my problem is centered in the fact that I haven't fully believed that God would communicate His "preferred future" to me as a leader!

God has always worked through leaders to accomplish His work.  God will likely work through leaders to direct the ministry and future of the church! 

I believe that God has lifted the veil on occasions to let me see His 'preferred future" for the church.  I have failed to act on that vision and knowledge by succumbing to authorites other than God!  [Disobedience = sin.]

There are several factors that can and do impact me in these situations:

1. Low self-esteem makes me think that God would never reveal His "preferred future" to me.
2. Lack of confidence prevents me from speaking up with the dominant message the church needs to hear.
3. Fear of conflict or confrontation causes me to shy away from speaking strongly of what I believe to be God's will.
4. Reluctance to use the power of my office (pastor) to push an agenda - even when I know that God has given me a glimpse of His "preferred future" - deprives the church of God-given leadership. 
5. An over-valuing of the democratic process puts the will of the majority above the will of God.  In the Bible the democratic process is never used with good results.  God consistently chooses to get His work accomplished through leaders who lead!

In reality, no one prays for the church more than I do.  No one thinks about the church more than I do.  No one works as hard in the church as I do.  No one cares about the health and growth of the church more than I do. 

By loving peace and giving it such a high priority, I have robbed the church of effective leadership!  I have deprived the church of God's "preferred future"! 

That's sad!

PEACEMAKERS DON'T MAKE GOOD LEADERS

I am a peace-maker.  I want unity and peace above all.  I work hard to obtain and maintain peace.  I willingly sacrifice to sustain peace.  I want us all to finish the race together.

This is the very reason that I have not been an effective leader.  I have not been willing to make the hard call.  If my decision will anger or disappoint someone, then I back up from it. 

However, reality calls for tough decisions.  What's right is more important than what everyone will like!  I wish I had learned that earlier in life!  It would have made me a much more effective leader!

Dissonance is uncomfortable!  Differing opinions create tension!  Resistance causes fear.  Ideas have to be thought through carefully.  Spiritual discerning must take place.

But, what's right and best must take precedence over maintaining the status quo!  The status quo may be what is most comfortable, but it is probably not what is best! 

An essential leadership quality is courage coupled with justice.  This kind of leadership presents itself not with an "It's my way or the highway" mentality, but with a "This is the way and we must walk in it" attitude!

This leadership is not ruthless, but persuasive;  not insistant, but determined;  not uncaring, but committed to what is right and best! 

God, help me - even at this stage of life - to become more confident in my ability to lead.  Give me courage to believe that You want to work through my leadership to accomplish Your great purposes.

HOME LEADERSHIP I

A friend loaned me the book The Resolution for Men, which springs from the movie COURAGEOUS.  The book is well-written with excellent guidance for men. 

On page 74, I found what I believe to be the most important paragraph in the book:

God has put something into men that longs to be courageous.  And when a man uses that courage to lead his wife well, she tends to bloom.  She respects him more and experiences a greater sense of security.  She'll want to follow his lead, and she will feel safe in doing so.  But when a wife lives with a leadership void, she will feel constantly pulled into the position of filling it.  As she leads her husband, not only does her respect for him weaken, he tends to cower and become even more passive over time.  She can be brilliant and strong, but both of them will feel resentment toward each other and less secure together.  Nobody wins.  Everybody loses.

I see more and more men giving their God-designed leadership to their wives.  It's the path of least resistance.  It's the easy thing to do.  They think it will lead to peace if they always go her way.  It's open-season on men in this culture!  Emasculating men is the new sport of humor.  What men don't realize is that by abdicating, your wife is gradually, but consistently, losing respect for you!

Dr. Willard Harley's book, His Needs, Her Needs:  Building An Affair-Proof Marriage, informs us that admiration is one of a man's top needs.  If failing to lead causes disrespect, then a man stands to lose something that is VERY IMPORTANT to him! 

We live in a world that is increasingly recognizing the strength and capability of women.  I applaude that.  However, husband/wife roles were designed by God.  Adam was created first;  Eve was created to be his help-mate. 

If we disregard the importance of those roles, we will suffer consequences.  It truly is a prime time for men to exercise courage and step into the leadership role God designed for them!

[More tomorrow]