WE ARE TO PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS

The Bible tells us that we are to pray for our leaders.  We do not go before God’s throne enough on behalf of our leaders.  Too many times, we rely on our supposed political power instead of relying on the spiritual power that comes from our Heavenly Father.

IF WE ARE ASKED TO DO ANYTHING, WE KNOW GOD WOULD NOT WANT US TO DO; WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN OUR GOVERNMENT

In the Book of Acts, the religious leaders of that day attempted to force the disciples of Jesus to stop preaching the Gospel.  However, Jesus had appointed these disciples to spread the Gospel everywhere they could.  The Bible records the disciple’s response, “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men…” (Acts 5:29).  Clearly, from what we have already seen, the Christian is not to be a troublemaker.  Nevertheless, if what we are asked to do conflicts with what God wants us to do, we are to “obey God rather than men”.  If we are asked to violate our conscience, a conscience controlled by the Holy Spirit, then we should refuse and, instead, do what God would have us do.

CHRISTIANS NEED TO VOTE

In our country, we have the ability to make our opinions known by exercising our right to vote.  What would our nation be like if every Christian prayed for God’s guidance and voted according to his/her conscience?  It would have to have a positive effect.  Besides praying for our leaders and our country, voting is the best way the Christian can influence the political climate of our nation.

REMEMBER THAT, NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION, GOD IS IN CONTROL

Oftentimes, we are intimidated by our perception of the government.  We see it as all-powerful, as far as it has the ability to define, or rescind, our liberties.  However, we can rest in the fact that nothing takes place unless God causes or allows it to happen.  “So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me?  Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”  Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above”” (John 19:10-11).  God’s sovereignty applies not only to Pilate, but to everything in the universe.

It is very clear that God is sovereign over everything that happens to us.  What is our responsibility to God?  Our basic foundational response is to, “…love the Lord your God with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul and with all [our] mind and with all [our] strength.” (Mark 12:30).  When we live this way, we have nothing to fear from man at all, not even the entity we call ‘government’.

“What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)                                                         (ROBERT DRISKELL)

Where are the spiritual leaders in our churches, Christian organizations, and families? In your leadership role as a pastor, elder, counselor, group leader, supervisor, or parent are you leading in the way of the culture or the way of Jesus?

To lead like Jesus means two things: be submitted to God and serve people.

The way of our culture is to take charge, push to get ahead, and strive to get what you want. But Jesus shows us what submission looks like in leadership. He shows us a leader who is gentle and humble in heart, yoked to God’s leadership (Matthew 11:25-30).

Over and over Jesus said, “I only do what I see the Father doing” (John 5:19, par). “Jesus’ Rhythm of Life” put first priority on intimacy with the Father and he kept submitting himself to the Father’s lead so that his life and leadership flowed in the Spirit-currents of the Father’s love and wisdom. If necessary, Jesus was prepared to abruptly break into prayer in order to stay under the leadership of the Father and the anointing of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 11:25, The Message).

The way of our culture is to hurry. We hurry to get more done. We hurry to get where we want to go. But when we hurry we lose touch with God and we neglect to care for the people around us.

When Jesus picked up a towel to wash his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper he wasn’t doing something religious — he was serving them, simply doing what needed to be done and cleaning their dirty feet (John 13:1-17). This unhurried kindness exemplifies how Jesus lived his whole life. Being unhurried helped him always to care for the people around him.

To follow the way of Jesus in your leadership role requires resisting the hurried, “make it happen” mentality of our culture. Instead, we’re to be as a caring shepherd over the flock, not lording over them or seeking selfish gain, but humbly submitting to God and serving others. This is the way of our Good Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:1-5)

Try waiting on God in prayer first. Before an important decision. Before a conversation. To begin a staff meeting, small group, or family gathering. Even just a few minutes meditating on a Scripture and waiting on God in prayer — whether alone or with a group you’re leading — will help you to lead like Jesus.                 (BILL GAULTIERE)

God has given us many things: our talents, our resources, our time, our children, our jobs, our interests. They belong to Him. God has given them to us as a gift. They are ours to use, but He can ask for them back at any time.  At any time  He can request that what He has given be returned in some fashion. He can do this because He is the true owner; we are trustees.

The true believer knows that the value of what we have is multiplied when it is placed in the Lord’s hands. The man gave his donkey, even though it was valuable to him. But look at how much more valuable it became when placed in the hands of Jesus. His donkey was had a part in fulfilling prophecy. His donkey transported the Lord of All Creation. His donkey (and its owner) have been remembered for two thousand years because of their simple act. None of this would have been possible if the man had refused to give what He had.

What we have is never more valuable than when we place these things in the capable and strong hands of Jesus. So, here’s the question? What is God asking of you? How can you “invest” what He has given you? What does He want you to give? A talent, some time, some money, a willingness to obey? I can’t tell you. It may be simple, it may be great . . . but what we do know is that the true disciple gives what the Master asks for.

There were 2 groups of people that Sunday. There were the Enthusiastic. These people screamed ’Hosanna” on Sunday and at the end of the week, said nothing, or even, “Crucify Him”. These are the people who follow the crowd. They will sing the hymns, clap their hands, serve on boards and committees but never make a commitment to Jesus. They are going to go whichever way is popular, whichever way is the most fun or which “ministers to them most”. Their chief concern is not following Christ; it is being “where the action is.”

And then there were the Committed. These are the folks who trust Christ as Savior and as Lord. He is the Master of their lives. What He commands they will do. Where He sends, they will go. What He asks for, they will give.

So, which group are you in? You see, the issue this Palm Sunday is the same as the first Palm Sunday. Jesus declares Himself to be the long awaited King that will redeem those who trust Him. The declaration is the same . . . and so is the choice. Will you receive Him as King and Savior or will you simply stand on the sidelines? You see, it is really not about a man’s donkey . . . it is about a person’s heart.                             (PAT COOK)