As I looked at the launch of Jesus’ leadership in Matthew 4, I was amazed. He began by gaining people’s attention through a bold vision: “The Kingdom of God is at hand!” He then began to create meaning through social architecture as he called his disciples and began to teach them about the Kingdom and their role in it as “fishers of men” (Kingdom Networkers).
Then he established trust and credibility for his organization through positioning as he networked “about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and … disease among the people.”
(Matthew 4:17-23)
Finally, after doing these things, he “gave [the twelve] power against
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness … and
diseases”—i.e., to do the very same works he was doing.
Those who know nothing but their Bibles, as Matthew Arnold once famously
said, do not even know their Bibles. It
is amazing how secular literature on leadership can call out principles that
open our eyes to things in the Bible that we gloss right over in our daily reading. It’s also wonderful to recognize that Jesus
knew everything about leadership. Though he never wrote a word that survived
history, we can find no better textbook on the topic than his open-book life.
Great leadership always appoints people to help them accomplish the vision
that God has given them. To provide an example for leadership and discipleship,
Jesus had to establish that practice Himself.
Who could better show us Christ-like living than Jesus Christ?
Jesus walked along, ministering to those in His path and finding those whom
He was going to bring alongside Him. This was no random selection; Jesus knew
exactly whom He was calling and why. The men He used were busy tending to their
family occupations, or were busy with a task at hand when Jesus asked them to
drop all they were doing in order to follow Him.
The great thing about this scene is this: Jesus picked people just like you
and I to do Kingdom work. How exciting is that? Please remember from this day
forward that if God could use those 12 men in all their humanity, then He can
use you and me today!
Many people followed Jesus wherever He went, waiting to see a miracle or
some amazing feat being accomplished by this man in their midst. The mass of
people may not have realized that Jesus was gathering a group that would support
Him in ministry as He traveled from place to place.
He asked men who were actively working and busy with their own lives to
drop everything they were doing to follow Him. And they did. When they became a
part of His following, and when the timing was right, Jesus decided to bring
structure to this plan. Jesus brought those He had chosen with Him on the
mountainside, named them as His apostles, and these men were ready to go forth
in a group, serving their Savior in unity.
Jesus ultimately appointed 12 men, designating them as Apostles. He
appointed them to follow Him and to preach the message He gave them. Why did He
choose 12 disciples? Or a better question might be: why did He choose this
motley assortment of leaders?
Most of The 12 weren’t very noteworthy in society; a few were despised; and
a few were even related to each other. Fishermen, tax collectors, and the like
were not what that society would have considered being among the most respected
professions!
It was not their impressive resume or knowledge of Scripture that caused
these men to be worthy in Christ’s eyes—it was their potential dedication to
the cause of spreading the Gospel and the true intentions in their heart that
won Him over. It was the simple fact that they would follow Him and not try to
take His spot as Savior.
There was no great campaign with a controversial election. There was no
“smear campaign” going on among these men discrediting others to elevate
themselves. They did not ask to be selected. They were selected while focused
on activities that were critical to their lives. They were selected because God
wanted to mold them, use them, and walk with them. They were chosen because God
called them.
These men who were chosen were already involved in activities they were
dedicated to. They put their heart into their work and focused on the task at
hand. Their hearts were set on the present and were not usually swayed by what
others were doing.
Like the disciples, no matter what our words or actions may say about our
intentions, our heart is what God sees, and God judges us based on our hearts.
Their hearts are what God searched, and He found them to be useful vessels to
serve Him. They were not necessarily perfect, but they were useful to God.
Teachable. Loyal. Willing.
Are you teachable? Would God consider you loyal and willing? Take a moment
to ask God to shape you into a more teachable, loyal and willing servant,
focusing on His will, and not just focused on pleasing man.
So, who were the 12? The first apostles were “. . . Simon (to whom he gave
the name Peter), and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James
(to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); and
Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son
of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Zealot; and Judas Escariot. . .” (Mark
3:16–18).
The first disciples modeled the very charge for all believers. Again, Jesus
gives us the example of how to fulfill what God asks. We bring others alongside
us to help in the ministry of the gospel. Jesus showed us how to do this
through His appointing of the disciples. Out of the multitude of believers,
Jesus saw those with a call from the Father on their lives, and put them into
positions of servant leadership. Jesus saw the ones whom the Father had brought
alongside Him, and He asked them to serve with Him in ministry.
In Acts 6:1–7, after Jesus had ascended to the heavens, we see the apostles
carrying out the Great Commission. We see them appointing helpers. God had
blessed them with a great following, and now these men needed to select other
helpers to serve meals so that those chosen to preach could focus on preaching.
The apostles were following the example of delegation given by Jesus.
What kind of spiritual leadership are we showing them?
Today's Thoughts
We often fail to realize that one of the very best ways we can make Kingdom leadership better is by being better followers. Kingdom leadership means that leaders will have to answer to God for how they have led. Kingdom citizenship means that we will be held responsible for how we have obeyed and blessed our leaders. What have you done to show your love, respect, and support for your church leaders lately?
How does Jesus’ example of appointing helpers compare with your way of asking for help? Do you look for the “right” person, or do you tag the person closest to you, whether that person is right for the job or not? If you ask Him, the Lord will equip you to do what He has called you to do, and He will call others to come alongside you in service.
Today's Prayer
Almighty King, all authority and dominion belong to you. You alone are worthy of power and the right to rule. Please glorify yourself in us and permeate our leaders' hearts with your will. We want the world to see your supremacy because of our unity and devotion to you. Please bless our leaders at church that they may lead by serving and following Christ.
Please empower us to follow their leadership in ways that exalt the cause of Christ and bless the leaders in your Kingdom. May our life never be a burden to them or an embarrassment to you and help us to be a better Christian leader to the people you have put in our sphere of influence. Empower us to have a life worth imitating. In Jesus's name I ask it. Amen.
Biblical Principles in Network Marketing
As a Pastor, Bill Nissen was against Network Marketing for years. In 2003, a friend helped
him see a new perspective. He still dislikes the ethics of many who do it, but he sees a
biblical perspective that allows him to not only support network marketing, but embrace it as
a way to serve people. Watch This Video. It is longer than most (20 minutes) but carries essential information.
