Leadership from the life of Jesus Part 3:The challenge of leadership. By Peter Brooks.

 This is a summary of a sermon preached by Peter Brooks at TOAM 2011,India.

Leading and helping people are a challenge. We see Jesus restoring people. We see the grace of God. We see the charge of leadership to feed the people.

 TEXT: John 21:18-25

There are three challenges of leadership that I want to talk about ad they also apply to Christian life.

1.     1. Challenge of going where you don’t want to go. Jesus outlines Peter’s future. History tells us that 8 apostles died as martyrs; 2 were crucified i.e. Peter and Andrew. Leadership will take you to death on a cross. In a conference you can say yes to all kinds of things – but the challenge is when the rubber hits the road. Jesus knew what it was to die on a cross.

There are times you have to do things you do not want to do or places you do not want to go.

Peter would not let Jesus wash his feet and then comes a stage in his life where he needed to be dressed. Maturity is allowing God to dress us. Will we allow god to take us places where we do not want to go.

2.     2.  Challenge of remaining undistracted by others: Don’t meddle in other people’s affairs. “What is that to you?” You do what God wants you to do. Keep your eyes on Jesus. “Be a voice not an echo”. Don’t do what everyone else is doing. Doesn’t mean you are independent but just follow Jesus and what he tells you to do.

3.       To seek His glory only! How do we do this?  “Not my will, but yours be done”. Peter went from swearing curses upon him self to being willing to die for the church. The Christian life is a journey of transformation.

2Cor 3:18 we are being changed to be more like Him. We are self centered creatures – we want praise, glory, affirmation and admiration all for ourselves. The Devil wanted this and he was cast out for it. Be Jesus centered. Let the passion of you life be about bringing glory to Jesus. You won’t lose anything by doing this. Jesus is so gracious- he says “bring your fish”. Jesus did not need the disciples fish to cook breakfast for them. He was already cooking some.

Living for his glory on this earth will allow you to enjoy the spoils of heaven.

1Peter 5:4 When Jesus appears you will receive a crown of glory that will never fade. God is going to reward us for catching “his “fish”. We have one short life to live and eternity to celebrate.

Keep being filled with the Holy Spirit and you will be able to face these 3 challenges. The call is still “Follow me”.