2. SOWING THE SEEDS OF JEALOUSY

2. SOWING THE SEEDS OF JEALOUSY

A seed of jealousy can be sown in someone until it overtakes them.

1. THE VULNERABILITY OF LEADERS (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

A. Leaders are often vulnerable to compromising the Word of God – the truth. In a congregation where the leadership is compromising, the affects are absolutely crippling. Far more people are going to come to hear someone say what they want them to say. God blesses obedience.

Jeremiah 5:30-31; 6:13-15 – the ministries that have the most money poured into them are often those who teach a prosperity gospel that says “You are in control of your future. If you have enough faith, you’ll not only have health, you’ll have wealth.” It is a heresy. The wounds of people are serious; how deeply people are suffering. Teachers and leaders come along and address it as if it is not serious. We can be very tempted to compromise the truth.

B. Hebrews 4:12 – one of the reasons we tend to compromise the truth is because it is very confrontational at times. Living in the Word means you better be willing to adjust your life to the Word. It is living the radical life. It is often our Christian brothers and sisters who are confronted by that change.

2. THE APPROPRIATE ATTITUDE TOWARD LEADERS (Psalm 62)

A. Before A Leader Is Forced To Fall:

1. In this psalm we see safeguards against the devastation that can sometimes come from placing someone on a pedestal. We help people to get in the situations to fall or crumble sometimes.

Psalm 62:1, 5 – our lives resting upon two words, our eyes cast upon two words, our mouth speaking two words – GOD ALONE. When God is your God, there is safety in that. Do not let anyone else accidently get into the place where only God belongs.

Psalm 62:5 – hope or expectation (tigvah, Hebrew), literally means “cord, as in an attachment. My cord or attachment is in God. Anything besides God, and we’re hanging on to a thread. God and God alone.

2. Psalm 62:7 – our relationship with God is separate from our pastor or teacher. We must approach it separately. They are encouragements to point us toward the Savior.

Isaiah 29:13 – just gently take a leader down from a pedestal before they fall. There is a very thin line between hero-worship and hate. Our mouths can say anything, but our hearts can be so far from God. Beware of a second-hand relationship with God.

B. When A Leader Has Fallen:

1. Psalm 62:3-4 – tell it to God. This is spiritual health.

2. Psalm 62:3, 9 – if you say anything critical about a leader, God will allow it to happen to you. It is better to judge not; we have never walked in their shoes. It is very wise to keep in mind that we are also human and infallible.

3. Psalm 62:11-12 – Give it to God. Tell God “You see this situation, take it.” He is just and loving, and He will take care of the situation in love.

Acts 5:29, 33-39 – our role for the most part is to commit it to God.

3. THE MOST VITAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LEADERS

A. James 3:1 – practice reverence and humility.

B. 1 Corinthians 11:1 – follow the example of Christ. Jesus says “If you are in leadership, you better be following me; because if they are following you, they need to be following you straight to me.” We have to keep steering people to the Savior.

C. 2 Corinthians 5:14 – we must have refreshed motives. Ask God to continually bring you back home to the reason that you minister or teach others.