Sermon Tone Analysis

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Introduction
This morning we talked about the one who is fit to follow.
Of course, the only one wholly fit to follow is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Tonight, I want to preach a message about people that are “Fit to Lead”
Abimelech certainly was not a man that was fit to follow or fit to lead.
We also know that the only true person fit to follow and fit to lead is God.
It is in our human nature to have a sphere of influence.
In other words, we seek out people in our lives that we allow to influence us and our worldview.
If you allow people that do not believe the Bible to influence you then you will have more of a secular and humanistic worldview that is not supported by Scriptural principles.
If we as Christians choose to have people that are godly and spiritual to influence our lives then we will develop more a biblical worldview.
We need to understand that there is a variety of ways we can be influenced.
Some preachers have the mindset that someone should never attend a school that is not a Bible College so as to keep people from being influenced by people that don’t believe the Bible, however, Bible colleges often do not teach you how to become a doctor or a lawyer or other professions that may require a degree that is not offered at Bible Colleges.
The problem is that while they are teaching you to be a doctor or lawyer or accountant they are also speaking to things that involve spiritual matters and subjects and opinions that develop inside of us a secular and humanistic world view.
So, if we are going to be taught to be an accountant in a secular school then we must limit their influence in our lives to numbers not political agendas or things that are interwoven into Scriptural matters.
A basic example is abortion.
While someone’s view on abortion may be a political one their opinion also points us to their particular worldview.
If they are pro-choice then they have a secular and humanistic worldview and not a biblical one.
So, if I have a professor that is teaching me about being an accountant I must separate his influence in my life.
He can influence me in regards to numbers, but I cannot allow him to influence me in regards to any opinionated matter of any kind.
Why?
Because his opinions on political, spiritual, and biblical things will be derived from a Secular and Humanistic worldview.
What he knows about accountant software is relevant to the sphere of influence I have allowed him to have.
What he thinks about dress, music, God, the Bible, guns, abortion, climate change, political policy, the direction of our country etc. is IRRELEVANT.
I DON’T CARE.
Why?
Because I do not allow him to influence me on matters that do not involve being an accountant because he has a secular and humanistic worldview.
In the same way we have people that influence us everyday.
We allow that influence and we should be careful who we identify as someone that is fit to lead our thinking, our direction, and our future.
So who is fit to lead our thinking, our direction, and our future.
Of course the first answer is Jesus Christ, but what are some qualities we should look for in a person that we allow to shape those things.
They must be a believer in Jesus Christ.
A person who does not acknowledge Jesus as God is a person that we should not allow to lead our thinking, our direction, and our future.
Abimelech obviously did not care about the things of God and the men of Shechem were only interested in what advantages they recieved from the next ruler in Israel.
None of these people were acknowledging God in their lives and we should be careful to ensure that those that lead us in our lives are people that are believers in Jesus Christ.
Using the example of the college professor and the college student pursuing an accountant degree.
If the college professor does not believe in Jesus Christ then the student should only apply the learning he receives from the professor that is directly related to his accountant degree.
Receiving counsel about what we should think, decisions that we have to make, or elements related to our future should not be something we get from this college professor that does not believe in Jesus Christ.
So, should all of our influences in life be; that if they are going to be permitted by us to influence us then they must be a believer of Jesus Christ.
The Word of God must be their final Authority
If the men of Shechem had searched the Scriptures available to them they would have found that Abimelech did not meet the criteria that God required in a king.
They would also have known that it was not their decision who the king should be.
If the Scriptures were their guide they would not have chosen Abimelech.
Anyone that influences and leads our thinking, our direction, and our future should be people that have a high esteem for the Word of God and it should be the final authority in their lives.
If the Bible is not their final authority then their counsel and their leadership will not be guided and directed by the Bible.
If the Bible is our final authority then we will have no problem submitting to someone’s leadership whose final authority is the Word of God.
Often times people seek other counsel outside of believers and those that put their authority in the Scriptures because they do not like the answers they are given from those people and from this book.
When this happens they begin to allow unsaved people that do not believe in Christ and do not trust the Bible to lead their thinking, their direction, and their future.
This is problematic and one reason why we lose so many people to the world.
They just simply do not make the choice to choose leaders in their lives that are fit to lead them.
They are not fit because they do not believe in Jesus and they do not make the Bible their final authority.
Remember that one may believe in Christ and be saved, but still not hold the Bible as their final authority for their lives.
They may even say they do.
Watch their lives, look at their testimony, and trust the Holy Spirit before you make someone a person of influence in your life.
They Must Be Faithful to the Lord
Abimelech had not been worshiping Jehovah.
He had been caught up doing his own thing, even brought up to worship the idol his father, Gideon had set up.
He did not have a testimony of faithfulness to Jehovah.
The men of Shechem were not faithful to the Lord either.
Abimelech was not fit to lead in Israel because he was not faithful to Jehovah.
The men that were leading Shechem to accept Abimelech were not fit to lead in choosing a king.
If a person is going to have influence over your thinking, your direction, and your future they should be people that not only believe in Jesus and believe the Bible is their final authority, but they must also have a testimony of faithfulness to the Lord.
If someone is not faithful to the Lord then how are they going to offer you biblical advice that is beneficial to your thinking, your direction, and your future.
Conclusion:
Some might question these requirements for anyone to influence you.
After all are there not people that do not fit these criteria that, at times, offer good advice?
While that may be the case that is not a reason to allow them influence over your decisions.
If someone says something to you that does not meet these criteria, but you think is good advice then take it to 3-4 people that do believe in Jesus, acknowledge the Bible as the final authority, and are faithful to God and see what they say.
If they agree with the advice and you feel the Holy Spirit is leading you then do it.
But that does not mean that person can become a person of influence.
Still, everything he/she says must be filtered through the people that are fit to lead your thinking, your direction, and your future.
This is a practical message with practical Scriptural principles that have long lasting effects on your life.
Ultimately, who you allow to influence your life is your decision, but if you do want live a joyful life that has few regrets and abundant blessings then you will give the influence of your life first to Jesus Christ and second only to those that believe in Christ, acknowledge the Bible as the final authority, and exhibit faithfulness to Christ in their lives.
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