The Faithful Leaders

A. SIGNS OF TRUE APOSTLES

1. Not Self-Serving THE FIRST sign of a true apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher is this: He will not use the Gifts of the Spirit or his God-given ministry in a self-serving or selfsaving way. He will use these gifts only when the Holy Spirit guides and directs they be used.  When Jesus was hanging on the cross, one of the derisions hurled at Him was this: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!" (Matt 27:42).  And that was very true. Jesus would not use His ministry for self-serving or selfsaving reasons. He could not save Himself.

2. Endures Suffering SECONDLY, the true apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher will be willing to endure suffering and hardship to fulfill the ministry Christ has given. That is the attitude the Apostle Paul had.  "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake... for when I am weak, then am I strong" (I Cor 12:10).

Every Christ-honoring ministry will have the same attitude. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5 niv).

 

B. EXAMPLES OF FAITHFUL LEADERS

1. Elijah — A Faithful Prophet:  “Now Elijah... said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain... except at my word'" (I Ki 17:1 niv).  As this prophetically declared judgment continued for several years, the land of Israel faced terrible drought and famine.  All went well with Elijah for a while. God had directed him to a brook where he could drink. God also sent ravens to faithfully feed Elijah bread and meat every morning and evening. It was a fairly peaceful picture. In view of the problems that others were facing during this time of drought and famine, Elijah wasn't doing too badly.  However, in time the brook finally dried up, and Elijah became a victim of his own prophecy! Dry bread with no water is not a very pleasant picnic. He might have been tempted to command it to rain.  If he had acted on that desire, he clearly would have been outside of God's will. God had not yet told Elijah to give the command for rain.

If Elijah had spoken when he should have been silent, one of two things could have happened: 

• God would not have honored the word, because he had "asked amiss" — that is, apart from the divine will (Jas 4:3). Had he done so, Elijah would have become a worthless and selfish prophet.

  

• God would have honored the word, but that might have ended the whole story.  Elijah might have missed the "fire-from-heaven miracle," and found himself with “leanness of soul" (IKi 18:30-39; Ps 106:13-15)

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Like the Lord Jesus during His temptation in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-4), Elijah refused to use his gift to quench his own thirst and take away his hunger. He waited for God to come and tell him when to use his prophetic gift. Only then would he speak the word of the Lord that would end the drought.  But God is faithful. The record simply reads: "Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 'Go at once to Zarepheth of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food'" (I Ki 17:8-9 niv).  Because both Elijah and the widow obeyed the word of the Lord, both were rewarded by the blessing and provision of a wise and loving God.  Their need became the opportunity for the Lord to perform the "oil and meal" miracle which saved their lives.  They both could have missed it by unbelief, or speaking when they should have been silent; or by being silent when they should have spoken.  Elijah showed us a good example. He would not use his power-gift to solve his own problems or meet his own need. He would keep the gift under the discipline of God's will and control.

2. Three Faithful Church Leaders: “I exhort the elders who are among you, I being also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Feed the flock of God among you, taking the oversight, not by compulsion, but willingly; nor for base gain, but readily;  nor as lording it over those allotted to you by God, but becoming examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory.”  (1 Pet 5:1-4 mkjv).

 

a. Paul. The Apostle Paul was a leader with a true shepherd's heart. He could have legitimately received financial support from the churches (I Cor 9:17,18; I Tim 5:17,18).  To set an example, he supported himself. "Even unto this present hour we... labor, working with our own hands... " (I Cor 4:11,12).  He was not a hireling. "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel ...you know that my own hands have ministered unto my needs... " (Acts 20:33-35). 

b. Peter. When Peter was offered money he replied, "...Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money" (Acts 8:20). Are you committed to being a leader like Peter? You should be.  All true leaders of God's people will continually guard against the hireling spirit and hate "the love of money."

 

c. Timothy.   Paul said, "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy... to you, For I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all [the rest] seek their own..." (Phil 2:19-21).  These must be the saddest words in the New Testament— "All seek their own... “Paul could find only one leader whose motives were clean and clear, to send to help the church at Philippi.

 

C. REWARDS OR JUDGMENT

The Lord told us, "...take no thought, saying, What shall we eat or, What shall we drink? Or, how shall we be clothed? ...Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you " (Matt. 6:31-33).

1. Rewarded for Faithful Service - God will bless those who lay down their lives for Jesus to serve others. He will graciously provide and take care of His servants.  But God has not called us to go where there is the most gold. He has called us to go wherever the Holy Spirit might lead us.  It may be to a hard people, as was Jeremiah's call (Jer 6:19); or to a people who will readily respond, as was true of Jonah (Jonah 3:5-10). What truly matters is that we joyfully do God's holy will from a loving heart. That must be the supreme commitment of our lives!

2. Judged for Unfaithfulness - “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  “Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matt 7:21-23 niv). 

Your reward in Heaven is based on what you have done for Christ on earth, and HOW (with what motive) you did it.

To use Christ's power to heal, cast out devils and prophesy — while living in the fleshly defilements of loving money, loving the praise of men and living in immorality — will bring divine judgment. 

What is that judgment?

The judgment on this group of Christian ministers was this: "DEPART FROM ME!"  The issue is proximity; how close you are allowed to Jesus in Heaven. If you do not stay close to Jesus in your walk and work on earth, you won't be close to Him in Heaven. 

During a time of apostasy (backsliding) in Israel, most of the priests became idolaters and sacrificed to idols. The SONS OF ZADOK remained true and stayed close to the Lord.  When reckoning time came, the judgment on the backsliding priests was this: "... the Levites that are gone away far from me... which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity ...they shall not come near unto me..."  But those who were faithful and remained true had this reward: "But the priests... the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me ...saith the Lord GOD" (Eze 44:10-15). 

The judgment for disobedience and failure was denial to HIS presence. That's a privilege I do not want to lose.  The reward for obedience and faithfulness was not Heaven in this case. It was the privilege of His presence. “They shall come near to me... saith the Lord!" That's what we should desire more than anything else in this life and eternity — to be close to Jesus. 

How close will you be to Jesus in Heaven?

As close as you stay here on earth. If you walk in sinful lusts, covet money, desire the praises of men more than God's (John 12:43), Jesus will say, “DEPART FROM ME!”  You will suffer the loss of all rewards, and the fire will burn up all your works (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 1 John 2:28). 

If you walk in faithfulness to your call and ministry, if you maintain integrity and righteous motives, Jesus will reward you with a place with Him in His throne (Rev 3:21).  You will enjoy His close presence throughout all eternity. 

D. THE JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVER

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly " (Jas 3:1).  "For we must all appear before the judgment throne of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad'' (2 Cor 5:10).  The Bible teaches that leaders and believers will someday have to give an account at “the judgment throne of Christ" for all deeds done in the Body, whether good or bad.

Concerning the judgment of the believer, the following facts should be kept in mind:

1. All Christians - All Christians will be subject to judgment; there will be no exceptions (Rom 14:12; ICor 3:12-15; 2Cor 5:10). 

2. When Christ Returns - This judgment will occur when Christ returns for His Church (see John 14:3, cf I Ths 4:14-17).

3. The Judge Is Christ - For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son, (John 5:22; 2Tim 4:8)

4. Solemn And Serious - The Bible speaks of the believer's judgment as something solemn and serious, especially since it includes the possibility of damage or "loss" (I Cor 3:15; cf. 2 Jn 8), of "being ashamed before him at his coming" (I Jn 2:28), and of "burning" one's whole life's work (I Cor 3:13-15). The believer's judgment, however, will not involve a declaration of condemnation by God.

5. Everything Made Public - Everything will be made manifest. The word “appear'' (Gk phaneroo, 2Cor 5:10) means "to be manifest openly or publicly," Hence, God will examine and openly reveal, in their true reality: 

a. Our Secret Acts (Mark 4:22; Rom 2:16), 

b. Our Character (Rom 2:5-11), 

c. Our Words (Matt 12:36,37), 

d. Our Good Works (Eph 6:8), 

e. Our Attitudes (Matt 5:22), 

f. Our Motives (I Cor 4:5),

g. Our Lack of Love (Col 3:18-4:1), and 

h. Our Work and Ministry (I Cor 3:13).

6. Give An Account -  In sum, the believer will have to give an account of the degree of his faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God (Matt 25:21,23; I Cor 4:2,5) and of his deeds and actions in light of the grace, opportunity and understanding made available to him (Luke 12:48; John 5:24).

7. The Believer's Deeds - The believer's bad deeds, when repented of, are forgiven in relation to eternal punishment (Rom 8:1), but they are still taken into account when being judged for recompense: "He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done" (Col 3:25; cf. Eccl 12:14; I Cor 3:15; 2Cor 5:10). The believer's good deeds and love are remembered by God and rewarded (Heb 6:10): "Whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord" (Eph 6:8).

8. Gain Or Lose -  The specific results of the believer's judgment will be varied. There will be either the gain or loss of: 

a. Joy (I Jn 2:28), 

b. Divine Approval (Matt 25:21), 

c. Tasks and Authority (Matt 25:14-30), 

d. Position (Matt 5:19; 19:30), 

e. Rewards (ICor 3:12-14; Phil 3:14; 2Tim 4:8), and 

f. Honor (Rom 2:10; cf. 1 Pet 1:7).

9. Fear The Lord - The anticipation of the Christian's judgment to come should perfect in him the fear of the Lord (2Cor 5:11; Phil 2:12; 1 Pet 1:17) and cause him to be sober, to watch and pray (1 Pet 4:5, 7), to live in holy conduct and godliness (2Pet 3:11), and to show mercy and kindness to all (Matt 5:7: cf. 2Tim 1:16-18).

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