Good Leadership or Stewards

Sermon Topic Sunday, 6/23/13 Good Leadership or Stewards?
We are living in a world condition today that is fast approaching a vacuum, where leadership is misleading, self-serving, or void of understanding. Standing upon good moral principles has become archaic and mythological.
We are being governed by polls … by public opinion.
Are each of us doing all we should be doing? This morning in Sunday School, we studied the passage in Alma 3 in which Alma preached to the people of the church in Zarahemla and thru all the land. Alma Jr. had given up his judgement seat to Nephihah, and set out to “stir them up in remembrance of their duty” (Alma 2:26)
Nowadays good deeds are being frowned upon and scrutinized beyond reason … doers of good deeds are being judged as to why they are doing them, probably only for themselves.
Matthew 5:13-16 … you are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world. Let that light shine … so others will glorify God. We get wake-up calls sometimes … but do we just “hit the snooze button”? If the salt have lost his savor … or could we say, if the salt has lost his SAVIOR….
Alma was talking to those of the CHURCH (Alma 3:2) … but had they walked away from what they should be believing and doing?
There have been many kinds of leaders over time – good and bad. Some have led their followers to great accomplishments; some have led them to great calamity and destruction.
There are times of judges governing the people in both the Bible and Book Of Mormon, and great leaders in both Books.
Some nations have done wrong even when led well.
Judges 2:8-19 … after the death of Joshua, a new generation of Israelites arose which did not know God or remember what He had done for Israel. They forsook God and worshiped Baal and Ashtaroth (Ishtar). They provoked the Lord to anger, and reaped judgement (v.14) … our own gentile nation was set up by God to be that light on the hill. The Lord removed His hand of protection from Israel when they forsook Him, and other nations conquered them.
God raised up judges who delivered the Israelites, but the people continued to serve other gods. Do we see that today in our own country? our own lives? The Scriptures make a statement, but also beg the question of each of us.
Proverbs 29:18 … Where there is no vision, the people perish, but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Our brother Dennis last week talked about rules … we need instruction, the virtues that God’s Spirit puts in our lives. When we don’t let Him, what happens? Do we want blessings/healings/liberty in this land?
We have the Spirit of the Living God in our lives. We have a vision of the way we live our lives … even in our finances, etc.
Matthew 15:14 … blind leaders of the blind. Back in verse 11, what is it that defiles us? Not what goes into us, but what comes out from our mouths (also Matthew 12:34-35 msl). Verse 12, the Pharisees were offended by Jesus’ saying … well, so what? Verse 13 … every plant not planted by the Father will be rooted up. We have sight, knowledge, vision, revelation, and the fullness of the Gospel. We are not to be partakers with them (the blind), but to be knowing and making a difference.
Ezekiel 33:1-9 … the watchman … God sent Israel prophets, and promised that the people would know that a prophet had been among them. You, Ezekiel, are My watchman on the wall. If you do not warn the wicked, their blood will be on your hands.
What are we doing? Have we been salt? We are to edify (build up) one another in love. Are we watching out for the people? Or do we go along to get along? Are we wearing the world’s camouflage? Do we say “it’s none of my business”?
1 Thessalonians 1:2-7 … ensamples (Strong’s G5179, tupos – a stamping die; a model) to the believers. Stewards and caretakers. Being an ensample does not mean believing one thing and doing another. V. 3 … your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope … do we work and pray without ceasing for our brothers in the mission field?
The Gospel is not to be used as a sledgehammer or a bulldozer, but to build up people. And opportunity can come at an inconvenient time! … but we are called on to deliver.
1 Peter 4:10-11 … the manifold grace … we have received the gift, now minister the same as good stewards of the manifold grace. Having the saving Gospel, we must be a good example.
Speak as the oracles of God … Spiritually led. The mouthpiece of God, which is how we got our Scriptures. Are your words Spiritually directed?
Are people watching the path? Where does it lead? Broad is the way to destruction, and many go that way. Are people being warned? Alma Jr. … are you Spiritually led? – good followers?
John 8:12 … he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness (in verse 11, Jesus told the woman taken in adultery to “go your way, and SIN NO MORE”.
I AM the light of the world … be a good FOLLOWER of God, and His way. Be a good example to follow, show the Light in your life, don’t walk in darkness.
2 Peter 1:3- … partakers of divine nature … having ESCAPED the corruption that is in the world thru lust … add these things (listed in vv. 5-7). He that lacketh them is BLIND (back to Matthew 15:14)
2 Corinthians 5:20 … ambassadors for Christ … are we representing Him? Have we walked the walk in humility? Have we made that covenant with Him?
1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 … Children of the day, not in darkness! That day will come as a thief in the night … either for us individually, when He calls us to Him, or for all at that day when He comes in the clouds. Let us not sleep (Strong’s G2518 katheudo, to lie down to rest, to fall asleep) but WATCH (Strong’s G1127, gregoreuo, keep awake, be watchful) and be sober (Strong’s G3525, nepho, to abstain, to be sober, to watch).
We are witnessing about that day. Why would anyone want to gamble with their life? …but some do.
Ephesians 5:1-2 … as dear children … FOLLOWERS. Let our lives, our works, and our words show that we are followers … let our lights shine so others will glorify God!