3 Priorities of a Great Leader

A church that sincerely prays together and faithfully studies God’s Word together, is directed and empowered by God’s Spirit for love, for meeting needs, for sharing faith, for including others.

2 Great Kingdom people are empowered by God’s Spirit through prayer and the Word.

Review

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 NIV

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

A great church is made up of great Kingdom people – those who devote themselves to deep prayer and deep study of Scripture. When the fire of the Holy Spirit is burning in each of us and we come together in the unity of the Spirit, far more will be accomplished to build the Kingdom than we all can do individually.

Great Kingdom People who come together as a Great Church must be led by Great Leaders.

What does that mean and where do those leaders come from?

First look at our theme passage -

As the church grew, Greek widows being overlooked. Leaders appointed from the individuals

Acts 6:3 NIV

3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

The Apostles recommitted themselves to focus on prayer and ministry of the word

Acts 6:4 NIV

4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Acts 6:4

Results:

Acts 6:7 NIV

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Big Idea: Great leaders are empowered by God’s Spirit through prayer and the Word.

Great leaders are empowered by God’s Spirit through prayer and the Word.

Illustration of press room and speaking on behalf of President. w/picture.

Press Secretary speaks on behalf of President - knows what the Pres wants to say and says that.

A Lifestyle of Intimacy and Intercession

(The pastor and people pursuing a lifestyle of Intimacy with God and Intercession for Others)

Jesus Modeled Intimacy with the Father

John 5:19 NIV

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

John 6:38 NIV

38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

Intercession for others

John 12:49 NIV

49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.

We frequently see Jesus going off for times of prayer with the Father

Luke 5:16 NIV

16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Intercession for others

Jesus Modeled Intercession for Others

Luke 22:31–32 NIV

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Mention

The Apostles Interceded

Acts 1:14 NIV

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Praying for Apostle to replace Judas

Acts 1:24 NIV

24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen

Acts 2:42 NIV

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 3:1 NIV

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.

Standing Together Amidst Spiritual Battle

Spiritual Battle Read

Exodus 17:8–13 NIV

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Every leader needs the support of others.

Who will stand in support of your pastor and leaders?

The battle is spiritual in nature:

Read

Ephesians 6:10–13 NIV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Ephesians 6:11 NIV

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NIV

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV

4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Just as we need to stand together in the Spiritual Battle, we need to be:

Kneeling Together In Mutual Intercession

Kneeling Together - praying for each other

Read

Acts 4:23–24 NIV

Acts 4:23–31 NIV

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’ 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Read

Acts 12:5 NIV

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

;

Acts 12:1–5 NIV

1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Read

1 Timothy 2:1 NIV

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—

1 Timothy 2:1–4 NIV

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

These are types of prayer

petitions = requests for needs

prayers includes praise and worship

intercession = requests for others

thanksgiving = praising and thanking God for answered prayer

Jesus promised and practiced intercession

Luke 22:31–32 NIV

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

; esp.19

John 17:19 NIV

19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

is a whole chapter of Jesus praying for His disciples, current and future

John 17:9 NIV

9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.

John 17:20 NIV

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

Jesus Requested intercession

Matthew 26:36–46 NIV

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

asking for prayer in the garden before cross

Read

Matthew 26:46

Paul pledged intercession

Matthew 26:46 NIV

46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Matthew 26:41 NIV

41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:Paul pledged intercession

Paul pledged intercession

Ephesians 3:14–21 NIV

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Read

Ephesians 3:14–15 NIV

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Ephesians 3:14-15

Paul pleaded for intercession

Romans 15:30 NIV

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

Simply Put:

1 Thessalonians 5:25 NIV

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

Big Idea: Great leaders are empowered by God’s Spirit through prayer and the Word.

Great leaders become great because they are in the Word and devote time in prayer

Great leaders are empowered by God’s Spirit through prayer and the Word.

But they also need the support of others who will intercede - pray on their behalf.

If we want a great church, and effective ministry we must be praying for the pastor and for the leaders who are devoted to the ministry of the word and to prayer.

What About You?

Response – prayer time to intercede for pastor and leaders, and commit to regular times of prayer for them.

Prayer up front.

Recommend pre-Sunday School prayer time in Sanctuary at 8.

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