Beginnings: Your Enemy, Bad Leadership
Those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.
Isaiah 9:16 (ESV)
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so, you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23:27-28 (NKJV)
In our King’s triumphal final entry into Jerusalem, think of the crowds: They CHEERED in passionate praise and worship. Jesus, the Leaven from Heaven, was there! But a few days later...
During His humiliating trial before Pilate, think of different crowds. They JEERED in hatred and condemnation. Leading priests, the leaven from hell, were there!
'The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds... They all said, 'Crucify Him!' ' (Matthew 27:20, 22).
Please note this biblical analogy:
Leaven is a rising agent (like yeast). In making bread, it's added to the dough, causing a rise in the baking process. If people are “wheat”, leaders are leaven, causing us to rise in their direction….
Which begs the question: WHO ARE OUR LEADERS? Because precious lives (both ours and others) are guided by those we choose to follow.
Actors, models, and talent for Christ: consider two things:
Your church and small group leaders should contain the life-enriching Leaven from Heaven: God’s Holy Spirit. How can you be sure? 'You will know them by their fruits' (Matthew 7:16). It's not about looks, sermons, or degrees. It’s about how much they ACT LIKE JESUS.
Are they wise, humble, and sacrificing? Because if you're fooled by charming speakers, you may rise for a time, but it won't last! 'If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit' (Matthew 15:14).As God’s leaders in Entertainment fields, your roles are to rise and shine behind Christ. Because fans (including lost lambs and sheep) now rise the wrong way behind the wrong stars.
You can show them the narrow path of love, found only in the Heart of your Savior! When they follow you, they’re following Him… that they may rise and stay risen, for life!
Beginnings: Your Enemy, Bad Leadership (Part 8)
* Psalm 23 NASB - The LORD, the Psalmist’s Shepherd. - Bible Gateway
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God– to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.
WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!