{"id":59,"date":"2003-10-12T23:21:12","date_gmt":"2003-10-13T03:21:12","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T04:00:00","slug":"dangers-in-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblearchive.com\/blog\/dangers-in-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"Dangers in Leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"

Steve Hulshizer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The following was first given as a message at the May, 1999 Elders and
\nWorkers Conference in Markham, Ontario.<\/i><\/p>\n

In my travels among the assemblies it is evident that the general
\nspiritual condition of many of them is poor. Attendance is often a small portion of those
\nwho would claim to be in fellowship. Worldliness has made inroads and it is manifested in
\na lack of commitment to the local assembly and a strong commitment to careers, hobbies,
\nsports, and recreation.

Another very evident need is for godly oversight?men who are
\ncommitted to caring for the Lord?s sheep even though it means great personal
\nsacrifice. In many assemblies there is no identifiable leadership and the Lord?s
\npeople go from week to week like sheep without a shepherd. In other gatherings, there are
\nthose who have been identified as elders but do little or none of the work involved in
\nshepherding the Lord?s people. Thankfully, there are those assemblies with
\nidentifiable and godly overseers who with personal sacrifice, care for the saints. <\/p>\n

When he was about to leave the Ephesian elders for the last time, Paul
\nexhorted them, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
\nwhich the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
\npurchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28) One danger that a shepherd faces is that
\nof neglecting himself. While expending himself for the Lord?s people he neglects his
\nown spiritual condition. In a similar way, one can get so involved in the Lord?s work
\nthat the Lord Himself is set aside. Like those at Ephesus, one?s works, labour, and
\npatience may be commendable, but he has left his “first love.” (Rev. 2:1?4)<\/p>\n

In addition to taking heed to himself, the shepherd must be on guard
\nfor those grievous wolves who come from without with the desire to destroy the local
\ntestimony. (Acts 20:29). This requires discernment as they will often come in sheep?s
\nclothing, speaking softly and acting graciously. (Rom. 16:18) Shepherds must also be on
\nthe alert for those who arise from within the local fellowship who would desire to gain a
\nfollowing.<\/p>\n

It is evident that those in oversight are subject to many dangers. The
\nadversary of the sheep and of the Chief Shepherd is constantly on the prowl, using his
\nmany methods in an attempt to have the shepherds fall, leaving the sheep unguarded.<\/p>\n

We will take a brief<\/i> look at some<\/i> of the dangers those in
\noversight are subject to by looking at the experience of leaders in the Scriptures. We
\nshould always learn from experience and, if possible, from the experience of
\nothers?it is far less expensive!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Timidity<\/b><\/p>\n

In the beginning of 1 Samuel 10, Saul is privately anointed by Samuel
\nto be the king of Israel. Later in that same chapter Samuel calls the people together to
\npublicly present Saul to the nation. After Samuel works his way through the tribes and
\nfamilies, Saul is selected but when the time came for him to be set before the people
\n“he could not be found.” (1?Sam. 10:21) How sad that after the Lord had
\nclearly marked him out that Saul would hide himself “among the stuff.”<\/p>\n

At first glance one might mistakenly see this as humility but, in
\nreality, its was fear?timidity. In a similar way, it is possible for one whom the
\nHoly Spirit has clearly marked out as an overseer (Acts 20:28)?and only the Holy
\nSpirit can do so?to hide himself among the stuff.<\/p>\n

Could it be that many in oversight who are failing to do the work lack
\nconviction that the Lord has raised them up to do this important work? Such a lack of
\nconviction will surely lead to being fearful and ineffective. If one believes he has been
\nraised up for this valuable work then he should move forward with a holy boldness to act
\naccordingly.<\/p>\n

When the apostle Paul was called to be an apostle there was no
\nhesitancy. He clearly identified himself as “an apostle by the will of God.” He
\nclearly understood his calling to be the apostle to the Gentiles. Peter, likewise
\nunderstood his calling and identified himself as an elder. (1 Pet. 5:1). He in turn
\nexhorted other shepherds to “feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the
\noversight thereof<\/i>, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a
\nready mind.” (1 Pet. 5:2) He encouraged not hesitancy, but definite action.<\/p>\n

David, the shepherd, when coming upon the battle scene and beholding
\nGoliath taunting God?s people, did not exhibit timidity. As a true shepherd he moved
\nforward, knowing the battle was the Lord?s.<\/p>\n

It was Paul who exhorted Timothy to stir up his gift and reminded him
\nthat “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a
\nsound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7)<\/p>\n

Now to have a definite conviction of one?s call to shepherd the
\nLord?s people also requires humility. There is such a thing as holy boldness with
\nhumility. The same Paul who clearly knew his unique calling also referred to himself as
\nthe “chief of sinners,” “the least of all the apostles,” and
\n“less than the least of all saints.”<\/p>\n

Certainly one danger for those in oversight is timidity: timidity that
\ncomes from a lack of a conviction that the Holy Spirit has raised them up to shepherd the
\nLord?s people.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Power<\/b><\/p>\n

Amazingly, the same one who was hiding “among the stuff” when
\nhe was to be introduced to the nation of Israel as its new king is later found exercising
\nthe power of his position to the point of ignoring God?s Word. The prophet Samuel had
\nclearly conveyed the message of the Lord to Saul. “Now go and smite Amalek, and
\nutterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman,
\ninfant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” It could not be more clearly
\nstated.<\/p>\n

When Saul failed to do as the Lord commanded, the prophet Samuel
\nreminds him, “When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head
\nof the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?” The one who
\nwas taken from among the smallest of tribes and least of the families was now taking
\nthings into his own hands and thereby rejecting the Word of the Lord.<\/p>\n

Saul offered the explanation that the animals which were not killed
\nwere kept in order to offer them to the Lord. Samuel responds with those words that have
\nrung down through the centuries, “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings
\nand sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than
\nsacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1 Sam. 15:22) The great lesson here
\nis that obedience to God?s Word is better than good intentions!<\/p>\n

So while one danger is that of timidity, another danger is that of
\npower. The overseer can, perhaps with good intentions, take things into his own hands and
\nneglect the Word of the Chief Shepherd. He may even act as a lord over “God?s
\nheritage.” Many have failed when placed into a position of leadership because they
\ncould not control their power and authority. Sadly, down through the years many saints
\nhave been “driven” rather than “led.” May the assemblies be spared the
\nmisuse of power by those who provide oversight.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Preeminence<\/b><\/p>\n

Scripture clearly informs us that Diotrephes “loveth to have the
\npreeminence.” (3 John 9) He left no room for others, even to the point of not
\nreceiving the apostle John. It is often true in leadership that there is one who seeks to
\nhave the chief seat among the brethren, even to the point of shutting out all others at
\ntimes.<\/p>\n

Paul addresses this competitive spirit in his epistle to the
\nPhilippians. Apparently there was a spirit of competition among the saints there and Paul
\nwrites, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
\nlet each esteem other better than themselves.” Paul also states that the saints were
\nnot to concentrate on themselves. He writes, “Look not every man on his own things,
\nbut every man also on the things of others.” (Phil. 2:3?4)<\/p>\n

It is in this context that Paul brings in the ultimate example of the
\nLord Jesus. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” What was
\nthe mind of the Lord Jesus? The One who was very God did not concentrate on Himself. He
\nwas “others minded,” and being so, He came from the heights of glory and took on
\nhumanity and the form of a servant. He took the low place, even to the point of the cross,
\nwith the good of others in view.<\/p>\n

We see this clearly as we view Him in the upper room washing the feet
\nof His disciples. It was a ministry that needed to be done and, since none of the
\ndisciples had the mind to do it, He did! How beautiful that mind and how much we need to
\nthink upon it that it may in turn become ours.<\/p>\n

We find in Scripture that overseeing the Lord?s sheep is to be
\ndone by “servant leaders.” The Lord Himself said He “came not to be
\nministered unto, but to minister.” May we entreat the Lord to provide those godly
\noverseers who lead by example and who serve in humility, not seeking the preeminence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Steve Hulshizer The following was first given as a message at the May, 1999 Elders and Workers Conference in Markham, Ontario. In my travels among the assemblies it is evident that the general spiritual condition of many of them is poor. Attendance is often a small portion of those who would claim to be in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-church"],"yoast_head":"\nDangers in Leadership - Rey Reynoso's Bible Archive<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/biblearchive.com\/blog\/dangers-in-leadership\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dangers in Leadership - Rey Reynoso's Bible Archive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Steve Hulshizer The following was first given as a message at the May, 1999 Elders and Workers Conference in Markham, Ontario. 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