Monday, April 14, 2008

Leading From a Right Heart

Thank you to all of you who came to our meeting today. It was a real blessing. Our youth pastors meeting went really well. We were able to share ideas and plan some things for the future.

Joel Johns asked me to post the content of my message.


Subject: Leadership

Theme: Heart Leadership

Proposition: God uses men in leadership when their hearts are right before Him.

Text: 1 Chronicles 29:1-28


How will men with right hearts before God lead?

Leaders with right hearts before God will…


  1. Do what they are commanded… v.2

    David here was told by God that he could not build the temple, so David went about to do everything he could do to prepare the temple. He was obedient.

    There really is no way that our hearts are right before God if we aren't being obedient to what he wants us to do. Here David says that he went about this process….


    1. With all their might v. 2

      David said that he did what he was supposed to do with everything he had, and he did it...

    2. With the resources that God has given v. 2

      As leaders we have been given the stewardship of our resources- people, opportunities, buildings, relationships..all have been given to us by God and it is our responsibility to do with them what God would have us to do. Right hearted leaders are obedient to God.


  2. See the need and respond in sacrifice…v.3-4

    -With a right heart v.3- "Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good…"

    When David saw the greatness of the work he was doing, he gave his heart over to God's work. Once he had done this, it caused him to give over and above what duty called him to do.


    Many times in ministry many of the things we do can become mundane and routine. Like David gave over his affection to the work that He was doing, the pure hearted leader looks at the work that God allows him to do with great excitement and passion, giving his heart to his work.


  3. Show the people the need and challenge them to responds

    -v.5 "and who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord"


    1. Leadership responded first- v. 6- "Then the chief of the fathers…"
    2. People responded next- v.8
    3. With a right heart- v.6 "offered willingly", "the people rejoiced…with a perfect heart they offered willingly"


    "A leader is a person with a magnet in his heart and a compass in his head."

    Vance Hainer


    Because David had given his heart to the Lord and to the project he had gone beyond duty and sacrificed of his own property, but David realized that the work was to big for even he by himself to do. As pastors we have been called to equip our people to do ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16.),and David provides a good example here. As a leader in ministry we actually cripple our people and get less done when we don't ask for our people to respond to the needs in our church. This can be especially true when it comes to service. Sometimes it can be easier to just do "the work of the ministry" ourselves because we think we can do it better, or because of the initial effort of recruitment and training. God calls us to equip people for the work of the ministry and that is what we ought to do.


  4. Rejoice in the work that God does…v.9
    1. With a blessed heart- "and David the king also rejoiced with great joy."
    2. With those that they have lead- "the people rejoiced"


      David here was able to rejoice in the work that God had done through him, and through the people that God had given him. Because David had given his heart over to the Lord and to the project, he was excited to see a victory. They hadn't completed the project. The task was not done. This was only the beginning of more good things that were to come, yet David took time to celebrate "the win" with his people. As those leading people in ministry we ought to take time to celebrate when we have a win. We must look for the victories that happen in peoples lives and celebrate those things.


  5. Give all the credit to the Lord v. 10-18
    1. With a worshipful heart-10-12
    2. With a thankful heart v. 13
    3. With a humble heart- v.14
    4. Notice how many time David emphasizes the heart- v. 17-18


    Ultimately, any of the success that David had was the result of God's grace and work in his life, and it is no different with us. As leaders in ministry we must lead our people into lives of worship of God. We must make sure that our motivation for service is not the pat on the back, or recognition from each other but service for God. We must understand that it is only by the Lord that we can do anything, and we express this to God with hearts of worship, thankfulness and humility.


  6. Impact the next generation v.19, 23-25
    1. Pray for the next generation- v. 19-Notice what David prayed first for Solomon- "a perfect heart"
    2. Allow the next generation to succeed- v. 23-25
    3. Instruct the next generation- v. 28:20

      1Chronicles 28:20

      And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.


    The best thing that you can do to impact the next generation is to have a pure and right heart before God, and to challenge those in your influence to do the same thing.


  7. Finish Well- v. 26-28

    Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.

    And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.


    In verse 26 the Bible uses and interesting word- Thus- You could say it this way- "What you have read is the way that David lead his people- and he died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honour. Because David had lived his life and lead his people with a pure heart before God, he was honored with these words.


    May we serve God and lead our people with pure hearts before God. In doing so we may be able to finish well, and we'll be able to hear our Lord tell us "Well done thou good and faithful servant."


    Ben Jennings
    Sonshine Baptist Church

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