Boot Camp: Take Me To Your Leader
[powerpress]
Transforming Truth: Jesus develops leadership in you as you faithfully steward unexpected responsibility.
Ultimately, what we see that God was preparing David for was a life of leadership. This leadership began in the midst of his trials. Today, as we conclude studying David's preparation for a life of purpose, we will identify key leadership lessons that we can extract from David's life. Specifically, we will identify the purpose behind seasons of obscurity, reveal loyalty as the basis for leadership and, finally, be encouraged by the reality of the ever-present leader in our lives.
Seasons of Obscurity
Jesus births leadership in you while you are in obscurity.
1 Samuel 22:1-5 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him. From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
David in obscurity
David was called to be king and publicly lead the people of Israel. However, he repeatedly found himself on the back end of the "corporate ladder of progress," this time in a dark, damp cave. Have you had apparent seasons of ups and downs?
Seasons of obscurity can be character forming and good for the soul. God uses them to clarify your calling because during these times it becomes not about you and the accolades that you receive, but about Jesus and His kingdom purposes.
We are refined as we ask the question, "For what am I willing to endure when I am not receiving the reward of people's praise?"
Have you found that eternal fire that gives value to your daily work life, relationships and service in obscurity? The answer to these questions can help clarify what God has actually called you to do because it is in these crucibles that the fire of Jesus alone will sustain you.
Faithful with little, ruler over much David would learn the skills he needed to eventually lead the nation of Israel by first leading the sheep, the armies of Saul and then the 400 well.
Psalm 78:70-72 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.
In which place do you find yourself today? What level of excellence are you bringing to your work, academic life and present church assignment? Are you approaching it with integrity?
You will eventually have to leave the cave.
As the prophet Gad let David know, the time will come when what you have built when no one was watching will be put to the test. David was no longer a lone shepherd looking after his father's sheep. He was now the commander of hundreds of men who he would lead into battle. David's pursuit of God literally shaped the direction that he was giving the 400 - their destiny. He needed to have the right character to do it.
Loyalty as the Basis for Leadership
Jesus forms the character for leadership in you as you are being led.
1 Samuel 22:6-19 Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.” But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. Ahimelek inquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”“Yes, my lord,” he answered. Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?” Ahimelek answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.” But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.” Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”But the king’s officials were unwilling to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord. The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
Where did David learn to lead well? Any good leader must first know how to follow.
Your real influence is caught not commanded.
The loyalty that David would one day expect of his followers, he had to first demonstrate toward Saul. Ahimelek was willing to follow David's lead because he had first seen him follow King Saul well.
Loyalty is demonstrated when you do what you are asked to do in your job, not just what you want to do or what you think needs to be done.
Being obedient to and of use to the one in authority is your platform for promotion, not what you think of yourself.
Whose lead are you following for kingdom purposes? Leadership comes as a product of being a servant to all.
Mark 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
The Ever-Present Leader
Jesus is the ultimate leader we must cling to.
1 Samuel 22:20-23 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”
In trial, you learn compassion for other people's plights and begin to champion their causes. This is what David did for his family with the king of Moab. It was what he did for Abiathar after his loss. This is the gospel of Christ.
God provided a sanctuary for Abiathar and the 400 men. It would become the incubator for their development in the purposes of God.
You need to find your people when you are in a challenging place, a time of transition.
The culture you live in tells you to float around from one community to another to find what fits you, rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to shape you for service amidst a company of men and women who will be on mission together. When you approach church like an amazon.com purchase, you are off.
As we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, a recent Facebook post I saw read, "Don't just go to church, belong to one."
I think it is better said, "Stop shopping for a church and get grounded in one."
Abiathar and the 400 found their new identity and direction in the company in which they found themselves a part. How is Jesus pairing you with other believers for His purposes?
Abiathar, the 400 men and the gospel
The 400 men that began to follow David during this time were those in distress, those in debt and those who were discontent. Abiathar had just lost everything. The good news, the gospel, is that God does not choose us because of what we have to offer Him, but because we humbly receive what Jesus has to offer us. We are able to "be real," but moldable, in this community enjoying the love described by C.S. Lewis:
"Eros will have naked bodies; Friendship naked personalities." -C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
David gave himself fully to Abiathar and the 400 men, absorbing their frailties as Christ did at the cross for those who would turn away from their sin and follow Him. Though starting in weakness, Abiathar and the 400 are those who would be shaped by grace and help extend the borders of God's kingdom all across the land (I Chronicles 11+12). Jesus does the same in those who trust in Him.
To whom might you might you avail yourself in this manner, ultimately pointing them to Jesus?
The Apostle Paul summarized the gospel highlighting the reason for our confidence in Jesus this way:
Romans 5:6-11 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
It is through seasons of obscurity that Jesus refines our motivations and our focus. As we continually avail ourselves to His redeeming work done on the cross, the Holy Spirit instills virtues such as loyalty and compassion in us. As we find ourselves in gospel community, we are able to successfully follow our ever-present leader, being shaped into the useful men and women who will advance God's kingdom all throughout the land.
Second City Church- Boot Camp Sermon Series 2014