Where Not to Get Influence

When thinking of influence as a spiritual leader, it may be prudent to start with where not to look. In my studying this morning the title of the lesson is: “Illegitimate Sources of Influence”. I am pleased with myself as I immediately thought of more legitimate sources and what those would be. But, I had to bring myself back to the places not to look for the purpose of the validity of my study this morning. According to Henry and Richard Blackaby, the illegitimate sources are; position, power, and personality, and I could not agree more.

When I think about the three illegitimate sources of influence listed by the Blackabys, I see places of very shallow. Two of those can be take away from someone by another person or entity, and personality can be faked to cover some reality in one’s life. Position and power rely more heavily on a fear component to implore others to follow. And when the position or power are gone, there is no other way to get others to do what you would want done.

A question asked by the Blackabys; Whom in your life do you regularly have opportunity to influence? It was not hard for me to make the connection. Those who attend training classes where I am leading. Tom Landry is quoted as saying; “The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don’t want to do in order to achieve what they’ve always wanted to be.” Now, I am not Tom Landry, but I do believe that I can substitute “trainer” for football coach and “others” for men in the quote and it fits pretty nicely. So as a trainer, I have the opportunity to influence others regularly.

Thinking of the role of trainer, I could use power, position, and/or personality to get others to do the work needing to accomplish. But when I think about it, I am only getting them to do things while I am watching and directing. By using those “illegitimate sources” of influence, I am dealing more in coercion as opposed to influence and the others will simply fall into their own ways once I am no longer around and driving them. So, as I noted above, once the source of influence is gone, the influence itself goes away.

Spiritual leadership depends on the guidance and work of the Holy Spirit to achieve the goal of God’s agenda. The power, position, and personality are His, not mine. I take direction from Him to achieve His goals and not my own. His power, position, and personality will not go away. And as they will not go away, they will continue to provide long after I have gone. My leadership comes from the legitimate source of God.

Where are you seeking your influence? Are you looking to your power, position, and/or personality to influence others? What about when they are gone, what if you were to get your influence from God as He will be here always?

How do We Buy In to the Vision

I am sure that most have been part of an organization that espouses some vision of the future. I know that the organizations I have been a part of sure have. The thing is, I am only able to remember and follow really only one of them. All of the others I could not see the benefit to me. I was not bought into the vision as there was nothing in it for me.

Now, the one that I can remember and buy into is the vision of our church. The vision of the Bridge Fellowship in Boerne, Texas is this: “We long to see a gospel movement that reaches every person of the Hill Country and is carried to the ends of the earth.” This vision is derived from the words of Jesus as He ascends to Heaven.

“⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 (ESV)

Now, how is it that I get behind something that is taken from somewhere else. Well, because it is inspired by God. It is His vision and we are taking it on as ours. It has been revealed to be the work to expand the kingdom of God. I am bringing the gospel to others so that they will have that which I do. I win when my brothers and sisters are there with me. I benefit therefor I am behind it. I buy in thanks to the reward in heaven for my work.

Visions are a dime a dozen and as I have noted above, I have had my share of them. But the visions fade when there is nothing in it for me. It is the revelation that comes from the LORD that drives the work to get behind. Buy in is easy when the benefit is known and understood.

What is your buy in to vision? Do you even know the vision of the organization you are a part? What if you knew the vision was from God and the benefit to you was clear, wouldn’t that be the revelation you would buy into?

Spiritual Leadership Not Attained On Our Own

In the secular world, leadership as Henry and Richard Blackaby say, “can be achieved through sheer force of will.” Someone may be able to live out the phrase, “If you want something done right, I have to do it myself.” And where this may feel as though it is true in the secular world, in reality getting something done most of the time requires help. And that help is from the Holy Spirit who was assigned to the task by God and sent by Jesus.

For me to attain spiritual leadership, it needs to be given to me. It is my task assigned by God. I am provided not only the task, but also the means and help to achieve. I am not alone and my will cannot help me.

And how do we know of the assignment and the tasks we are to accomplish for the LORD. We are to be in right step with Him all along the way. I have to commune with the LORD on the regular to know and understand that which He has for me. I have to love Him will all of me and accept that He loves me with all of Himself. Only then will His will be known to me.

“³⁷And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the great and first commandment.’” – Matthew 22:37-38 (ESV)

This love of the LORD shows our commitment to Him and in turn, He reveals Himself to us and assigns the tasks He has for us. And then, the Helper comes to guide us through it all.

“¹⁵If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, ¹⁷even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will beg in you.” – John 14:15-17 (ESV)

I cannot do it alone. I need help. The LORD knows this and provided the Helper I need. I am to do the work of the LORD with the help of the Holy Spirit. I cannot attain spiritual leadership without it being assigned to me by God and without the help of the Holy Spirit. I cannot do it alone.

What is your process for attaining spiritual leadership? Are you out there going it alone, working to do it yourself? What if you worked to love the LORD and know that He will assign your tasks and then, give you the Helper so that you are not alone?

Spiritual Leaders are the Tool of the Holy Spirit

This seems like an odd thing, that spiritual leaders are only a tool for another and do not do things on their own. Think about it, “Spiritual leaders depend on the Holy Spirit” – Henry & Richard Blackaby’s 2^nd truth of spiritual leadership. Spiritual leaders are not asked or expected to do things on their own. They are asked to be the tool through which the Holy Spirit works.

Take Moses. He was not of greatness, yet God used Him to free the Israelites from the rule of Pharaoh. And, Moses, he was reluctant all the way. In Exodus 3:1-4:17 we see that Moses felt as though he was inadequate in station (not influential enough). He felt as though he was inadequate in voice (not a strong enough speaker). He felt as though he was inadequate in education (not a smart or eloquent enough). And, he was lacking confidence (not the right person). Yet, God would use him as the tool to accomplish the goal of leading the people out of Egypt. The Holy Spirit would be doing the work, yet needed the right tool to get it done in the sight of Pharaoh and others.

Aren’t we all similar in our approach. Each of us fall into a bucket of fear keeping us from accomplishing things (Fear of failure, ridicule, uncertainty, success). These are those items that plague us as man and keep us from moving forward. We feel as though we are not adequate enough to achieve the goal.

Now, there are also times when we may feel as though we are the right one, yet are working to accomplish our own agenda and not that of the LORD. I have fallen into this category for the longest time. At my current company, I have known that I am to be here where I am and that there is something for me to accomplish as a leader. Yet, for that same period, I have been looking for the outcome that would to be accomplished. I had been looking inn the wrong place. I was looking at what “I” was to accomplish and not what God was to accomplish through me.

It does not matter who, what, where, or when we are. We are the tool in the moment being used by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work of the LORD. Being a spiritual leader is allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us to move people on to God’s agenda. Like Moses, we may not be influential, or a strong speaker, or smart, or right person enough to take on the task the LORD has for us. But, we are not supposed to be in our own eyes. We are just the tool the Holy Spirit uses to accomplish the work of the LORD.

What is your view of your role in accomplishing the tasks of the LORD? Are you finding yourself to be inadequate in taking on the tasks? What if you were to allow the Holy Spirit to use you as a/the tool to do the work of the LORD?

Who and/or What to Follow

I have been studying leadership for a while, especially in the corporate world I work. I have wondered about the “leaders” that have been over me and the leader that I am. Yes, the quotation marks surrounding the word “leaders” is intentional as I do not believe that everyone in a position of overseeing a group or task is a leader. As I also believe that you do not have to be an overseer of people or tasks to be a leader.

This morning I have begun a new process or structure to my daily bible study. I am working through a series titled “MasterWork”. This series is from 2011, and where that may seem a bit ago, I went through the first lesson this morning and realized the value even today. There was reference to the speed of technology and the Information Age that we are currently right in the middle. The first section of this quarter’s (as the guide is structured into quarters) is on Spiritual Leadership.

The first question asked in the lesson is who are the leaders who have had an impact and why in my life. I gave this some thought and found a couple to men that helped to shape who I am. I gave some real thought to the who and you know, I am a bit embarrassed that I did not first think of the leader that we should all be shaped by, God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. I first thought about man. Why did I not reference our LORD as the one leader who is the perfect example to emulate.

Now, I know that I am doing a bible study and writing in reference to following the Word of God. Shouldn’t I be also looking first to Him for the answers to questions. It was not until later in the reading that I found the better questions that led me to turn to God as the one true and complete one to serve as my example to follow, “But where does one begin? Which book does a leader read next? Which seminar is a must?” My answer, God’s Word.

Isn’t it true that we are always looking for the next gimmick or quick fix to things. We want things to be done with the wave of a few questions or actions to generate results. But, the truth is not in the quick fix, but in the slow and steady application of the proven approach. And where is that proven approach? Who derived the approach that stands the test of time? Why that is God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. The LORD has done it all and not just once but with many. There are so many from time that have followed the will of the LORD and been great leaders in their own right. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, Paul, and Peter to name just some were men who followed the LORD.

Now, were all those listed above perfect leaders. NO! But they were leaders that followed the direction or example of the LORD. Each of them had their faults and failures, yet ultimately are considered great men who led under the direction of the LORD. They followed the LORD and His direction, teachings, and/or example in leading during their time.

The same can be said of a more modern age of leaders. Whether Billy Graham or John Maxwell, these men and countless others follow(ed) the example, teaching, and/or direction of the LORD as their guiding principle to leading. So, who and/or what to follow, that would the LORD and His Word.

Where are you looking for your leadership example? Are you looking for the next quick guide? What if you looked to true, tested, work and example of our LORD and His Word?

Life Gained When Given Up

I know, another one of those sayings that seem to not make a lot of sense, we gain life by giving up life. But that is exactly what Jesus offers to us all.

“³⁵For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” – Mark 8:35 (ESV)

I am here to work for and please the LORD. I am not here for myself. Therefor I should be giving all to the LORD and the work He has for me. But it is more than just giving of my talents, I am to give my life for Him. I am to offer myself as an offering to Him and not just my works. What good is it to hold onto my life when I have given all of my works and talent to the LORD? I have to give everything to get everything.

“³⁶For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷For what can a man give in return for his soul?” – Mark 8:36-37 (ESV)

And yes, these two verses are questions and yet they are full of answers. There is no gain from the world for the price of my soul. Remember that we cannot take things with us when we leave this world. All that is gained in this world is lost when we leave.

But, when we give ourselves fully, including our soul to the LORD, our reward is just getting started. Think of it like a financial investment. I make a deposit on day one and again on day two and so on. There does not seem like much in the beginning, but over time, that small investment grows and before you know it there is more to it than you thought possible. With Christ, the gain in the beginning of the relationship will be hard and small. Yet, over time the relationship grows and before you know it, there is so much gain that we look forward to moving on to heaven when the time comes.

Gain from the LORD is not the physical that we come to expect here in this world. It is of the heavenly, which is more precious as we get to take it with us and experience it for eternity. It all starts with the acceptance of salvation and grace and we then make those little deposits daily which become easier and easier as time progresses and before we know it, we are giving all we have to Him as the joy and love abound through us. When the time comes, we will rejoice at the heavenly gains we have acquired through our obedience and giving to the LORD.

What gain are you hoping for? Are you looking for the gains in this world? What if you sought the gains that you can take with you through the giving of yourself to the LORD fully?

Nothing Gained in this World

This morning I was reminded of how all that we do in this world gains us very little as it all has already been realized at some point. I am reading in Ecclesiastes this morning and the passage is titled “All is Vanity”. As I read, I see that everything is or has been done already. What we find as “new” is not really new at all. Everything has been done and experienced before.

“⁴A generation goes, and a generation comes,

but the earth remains forever.

⁵The sun rises, and the sun goes down,

and hastens to the place where it rises.

⁶The wind blows to the south

and goes around to the north;

around and around goes the wind,

and on its circuits the wind returns.

⁷All streams run to the sea,

but the sea is not full;

to the place where the streams flow,

there they flow again.”

— Ecclesiastes 1:4-7 (ESV)

All is only “new” in the moment or to the one. Lori and I are taking a vacation to California and will likely take a quick ride to the Pacific coastline and gaze out and dip our toes into the sea. We will enjoy the moment, yet the there is really nothing new to these actions other than being an area we have not been to before. Once we leave, the new has worn off and the next time we go, it will not have the same impact.

“²Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,

vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

³What does man gain by all the toil

at which he toils under the sun?”

— Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 (ESV)

When nothing is “new” in this world, there is nothing gained by seeking it out. I will be spinning my wheels and waste away as I look to this world to give me something it cannot give.

And that is where the LORD comes in. He is NEW every day. He gives life to it all. He provides for us all. He blesses us all. Think about that same trip to the Pacific coastline that Lori and I are taking. Where it is not “new”, we can look to the beauty of it and know that was created by God. We can praise Him for it all. We can anticipate the additional great things that we will witness, knowing that He made them all. We will gain from Him and not the things of this world. Gain is in the LORD. It is in the things that He has made and not in the things themselves as they are not “new”. Seeking out the things of this world are an exercise in vanity as we look to be marveled by the things when we should be seeking out the LORD and be marveled by what He provides for us to experience. That is our gain.

What are you seeking out? Are you looking for things to gain from? What if you sought the LORD and gained from Him and all that He provides for you?

Gain in the LORD

I just finished a study on the word “lost” and have now begun to study “gain”. I have in just one short passage been reminded that it is not my own gain that I am to be seeking out, it is the gain in the LORD.

“³⁶Incline my heart to your testimonies,

and not to selfish gain!

³⁷Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and give me life in your ways.”

— Psalm 119:36-37 (ESV)

When I look at the above passage, I see the middle two lines related to selfish and worthless things in this world. I believe that we, as a society at large, seek things for ourselves. We are looking for those things that will be at least on the surface, acceptance in this world. By having those things of this world, others will see us as somehow worthy of praise.

With the LORD, it is the things that are inside us that are of value to Him. It is not what we have but who we have in Him. I have to remember that I am to take on the example of Christ in my life and live according to His plan. I have to look for the glory in Him and not look for acceptance, as I have already been accepted into the Family of God with my receipt of the gift of salvation.

I look at acceptance and see that it is the commonality between me and others where that acceptance is found. Not in the tangible things others see that I have and may want. When one finds commonality they are accepted. If someone has a passion for sports they are accepted with others with the similar passion. If someone has a love for music, there is commonality and acceptance with others who love music. Art aficionados are accepted with others in the art world. It is this commonality that brings the acceptance and gain that is sustaining.

I gain more in the LORD than anyone can imagine. I have a fellowship of believers that are my instant family. I love the LORD, they love the LORD and together we have the commonality and acceptance of one another. My gain is in the LORD and the commonality I have with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Where are you looking for gain? Are you looking for acceptance in the world to somehow gain? What if you looked to Jesus and found others with the commonality of looking to Jesus as your place of acceptance and gain in the LORD?

Not Lost with Jesus

I am wrapping up my study of the word “lost” this morning. I have been reminded that I am not lost when it comes to my relationship with the LORD as He cares deeply for me, ensuring that I am found and join Him in heaven when the time comes. The other point is that once found, I will not be lost as Jesus notes on the night in which he was betrayed.

“⁷So he asked them again, ‘Whom do you seek?’ And they said, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ ⁸Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.’ ⁹This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: ‘Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.’” – John 18:7-9 (ESV)

I see this morning that Jesus comes to the rescue, not only to find me when I was lost, but to protect me from being lost in the first place. Here, Jesus identifies Himself as the one the men are looking for and that since that is the case, Those who are with Him should go free. He could have denied who He was to save His own life in the moment, yet He chose to fully embrace who He was not only for the spiritual lives of all as He was here in the world to do, but the physical lives of those in His care as well.

I know that it is easy to talk a big game, but it is a challenge to get in the game and do the work that is needed. Jesus did not just talk, He took action and that action of protecting His people in the face of danger so they would not be lost is what makes Him so much different than others. He did not just talk the talk, Jesus walked the walk and protected/protects His people in all aspects of protection. From the spiritual to the emotional to the physical, Jesus does the work to ensure that we are not lost to the world as one of His brothers.

I need protection daily. I am a sinner who does not deserve the love, care, and salvation offered by Jesus. Yet, He loves me anyway and will take all action to make sure that I am not lost, whether that is to find me when I am lost, or protect me from being lost. With Jesus, I am NOT lost.

What is your status with Jesus? Are you lost or in danger of being lost? What if you looked to Jesus knowing that if you are in either situation, He will find and protect you from being lost?

Seeking the Lost

“¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10 (ESV)

And there you have it. I will just leave this here.

You see, Jesus did not come seeking to save “a” single lost one, He came seeking “the” lost ones. That means all who would accept him is who He is looking for. It does not matter where you are, where you come from, or what you have done, when your heart is open and you accept Him, He gives you love and salvation.

Who are you? Are you one of the lost ones? What if accept that you are, open your heart and accept Christ as He has been seeking you?