We've been working through a long series on the subject of leadership. We have all been called to be leaders of this world and not followers. We are to lead people to Christ. We can't do that if no one is following us.
We have discussed many of the qualities that make up an effective leader. We've discussed the focus of Noah who stayed on the task God gave him to build the ark and lead his family to deliverance from the flood. He stayed focused for 120 years (between the time God told him to build the ark and when the first rain drop fell).
We also talked about Elijah and his passion. People will follow a passionate leader. He displayed this passion when he was moved to action by God's people worshiping Baal. He challenged the prophets of Baal to call down fire to consume an offering. Whoever had their god show up would prove who the real God was. The 450 prophets tried for many hours with no results. Elijah then soaks the offering and calls down fire from heaven. God's people turned from their ways and returned to God.
We also talked about the 360 degree leader. A 360 degree leader masters leadership in four key areas -- leading himself, leading a person of influence, leading those around him and finally leading in a position of authority.
We looked at Nehemiah and how he went through this process to get the wall around Jerusalem rebuilt. He led himself by taking responsibility for being disobedient to God. Then his leadership skills were able to lead King Artexerxes to allow him to leave to rebuild the wall and even financed it. Then he head to lead the people in Jerusalem to get the job done. he did not use a title or position to do this, but simply influenced the people by having a plan and a passion. Finally, he led in the position of the governor. When he received royal "care packages" from the king, he shared them with the people who were working so hard instead of enjoying the goods himself. This gained him respect among the people who were willing to continue on the project, even when times got tough.
This past week we looked at Jehoshaphat and Elisha in 2 Kings 3. Jehoshaphat and two other kings were preparing to go to battle with the Moabites. As they are crossing a desert valley they run out of water. They go to the prophet Elisha to get God's help. Elisha tells them that God will perform a miracle to bring them water. But he also teaches them a valuable leadership lesson. They were simply looking for water and had resigned to the idea that they would be defeated by the Moabites. Elisha showed them that a good leader needs to think big. He told them that God would meet their need and miraculously provide water and that He would also deliver their enemy into their hands. They needed to have bigger picture thinking.
