The Leadership of Moses
Leadership • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Acts 7:22-35; Hebrews 11:24-26
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.
“Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons.
“And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and dared not look. ‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.” ’
“This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
The Demands of Leadership
The Demands of Leadership
Character – who you are when no one is looking. James 1:8; Titus 1:9
A leader without character will be terrible for the group he is leading.
The main question: do you ALWAYS aim to do the right thing?
Not a promise that you WILL always do it right, but that you WANT to do it right.
Will your right and wrong CHANGE to fit the situation, or are you basing your right and wrong upon the revealed word of God?
A Husband/Father who is duplicitous/two-faced is not going to provide a good home for his family. It will create strife and produce terrible results. Such is the same in ANY position of leadership.
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
A leader in a congregation (elder, deacon, ultimately ANY MEMBER) who is fearful of offending with the truth and/or unwilling to confront sin in the church will ultimately destroy that church.
holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Not a choice, but a DUTY! Matthew 5:14-16; Luke 4:43; 8:43-44
Matthew 5:14-16 – The simple truth of a Christian – we are to be LIGHTS, plain for everyone to see!
Luke 8:43-44 – Jesus did not CHOOSE this outcome, but took it upon Himself!
Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
It was uncomfortable, awkward, and inconvenient, but Jesus made time for this woman. THAT is leadership.
Luke 4:43 But he said unto them, I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent.
but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”
Not to be expected, but earned. Acts 7:22-25; Ex. 3,4
Young Moses – Acts 7:22-25
Mature Moses – Ready, but not confident (Exodus 3,4)
We don’t just snap our fingers and BECOME who God wants us to be. It’s a developing process!
This is why when we look at the possibility of elders in a congregation, we have to look at what is ALREADY HAPPENING. And indeed, work on it!
The Problems of Leadership
The Problems of Leadership
Loneliness. Exodus 19:7-8; 14:10-12; Numbers 14:1-4
The right action is sometimes (OR OFTEN) unpopular.
Exodus 19:7-8 - When popular, the right path is easy to take.
So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.
Exodus 14:10-12 , Numbers 14:1-4 – When UNpopular, the right path becomes very hard and troublesome.
And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”
Jesus promised us such: Matthew 7:14 For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Selflessness. Phil. 2:3; Rom. 15:1; Lk. 22:25-26
When leading, you sacrifice your own needs for others
Philippians 2:3 doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Romans 15:1 Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Too many lead from the wrong perspective, and end up tyrants. Such should not be the method or mindset of a Christian!
Luke 22:25-26
And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
Time, Money, Emotions should ALL be “on the table” to be given up for the sake of others.
Seductiveness. Num. 16:1-5; 1 Tim. 3:1-9, 1 Pet. 5:1-4; James 3:1
Leadership attracts those who desire it with impure motives.
Numbers 16:1-5 – Korah was an Opportunist – sowed discord to try to gain leadership.
Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”
So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face; and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him.
1 Timothy 3:1-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4 – motivation of elders is a PRIME example!
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Leadership appeals to those who would want to misuse it!
James 3:1 Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Brings Pain. 2 Cor. 11:27; Heb. 13:17
Moses was blamed often, unappreciated, and received very little encouragement.
in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
The Qualities of Leadership
The Qualities of Leadership
Leadership must be apparent. Matt. 25:1-3; 1 Tim. 4:16; Phil. 4:9
Matthew 23:1-3 – The Rulers of the Jews were leaders by title, but NOT by action!
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Timothy was urged by Paul to fix his attention upon himself and the doctrine. In showing his leadership, he would save both himself and others around him.
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
The brethren in Philippi were leaders if they imitated Paul.
The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Age is not a qualification in itself. Heb. 5:12; 1 Sam. 17
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Young David’s leadership vs. the cowardice of all the other Israelites (1 Sam. 17)
Moses’ qualities
Meek – Numbers 12:1-3
Humble – Exodus 3,4
Loyalty – to God and those who he led – Exodus 32:9-25
Faith in the Plan of God – Exodus 14:12-13
Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
Faith in following that Plan – Exodus 25:40
And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.
Must be accounted for.
Stewards are to be FAITHFUL. 1 Corinthians 4:1 KJV Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Samuel desired accountability from others. 1 Sam. 12:1-5
Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. And now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”
And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”
Then he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.”
And they answered, “He is witness.”
Paul held Peter accountable. Gal. 2:11
Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;
We have to be willing to take each other to task for our failures, not simply ignore them or sweep them under the rug!
We should also desire to BE taken to task for our failures! Someone who acts as if he already apologized, or acts as if he’s done nothing wrong when he is to be blamed, is not someone fit for leading anyone.
Remember, we are not failures because of our failures. When we keep going in spite of failure, we are proper saints and spiritual leaders. Peter didn’t stop his work because he got something wrong. Neither should we.
Leadership is REWARDING
Matthew 25:23,34 –“well done”, “inherit the kingdom”
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.