When Leaders Lead

We have many things to be thankful for: grace, life, salvation, etc. Are we thankful for willing leaders? Those among us that willingly step into the fray, and carry the banner of the Cross of Christ?

Judges 5:2 NIV

“When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves— praise the Lord!

God is looking for willing hearts — not experts or professional theologians — simply willing hearts that trust Him enough to step out into the battle, to proclaim Jesus boldly. Praise the Lord for those people! Would that we would see more and more rise up in this season we are living.

Sermon Intro

The book of Joshua records a time of many victories for the Israelites — they finally entered the land of Promise and began to take their inheritance, just as God promised. At the end of the book, many years later, Joshua the leader dies. We are told that Isreal followed the ways of the Lord until that generation passed, then they began to do evil in His eyes, following false god’s, intermarrying, etc.

Life can be quite a roller-coaster ride - here’s what I mean by this: each person has choices to make, sometimes we make good choices and other times we make very foolish choices. Thus the roller-coaster ride. Sometimes I feel right on track with things — other times my selfish nature gets the best of my and I say or do things I regret. That is human nature. We are in a battle.

Thus began a roller-coaster ride for Israel that lasted many years. The book of Judges records many of these up and down periods in their history. They would sin, suffer, and eventually cry out to God. God would send a judge to rescue them. When that judge died, they went back into their old ways until they became desperate and cried out to God. Roller-coaster.

A prophetess by the name of Deborah, became one of those judges.

Judges 4:1–5 NIV

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, now that Ehud was dead. So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in Harosheth Haggoyim. Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the Lord for help. Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.

Judges 4:1–3 NIV

So here’s this wicked king, Jabin - and his cruel general by the name of Sisera. Sisera commanded 900 iron clad chariots. Jabin took over the land and treated the poor folks horribly. They submitted to him out of fear. In and 5, however, three people became their rescuers: Deborah, the judge who sat under a tree rendering judgment, a soldier by the name of Barak, and Jael, a woman that was very skillful with a mallet and a tent-peg.

Judges 4:6 NIV

Judges 4:6–7 NIV

She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’ ”

Barak said to Deborah...”I will not go unless you go with me.” She responded, “Okay, if that’s how you want it, but the honor will not be yours because God will hand over the enemy to a woman.”

When the 10,000 men of Naphtali and Zebulun were in position…Deborah said to Barak, “Go…the Lord has given them into your hands.” Barak and his army easily defeated Sisera and his 900 chariots, because God’s hand was with them. According to the victory song in chapter 5, God caused the river Kishon to flood and sweep the enemy away.

The icing on the cake came when their commander Sisera sneaked away from the battle and sought refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber. She gave him something to drink — he asked her to stand at the entrance to the tent while he rested.

Judges 4:21 NIV

But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.

That was a day of great victory — Deborah, Barak, and Jael’s willingness to step up was key The chapter concludes by saying that the Israelites continued to fight Jabin, until they destroyed him.

After any great victory comes great celebrations. records a celebration song —

Judges 5:1 NIV

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

Judges 5:1–2 NIV

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves— praise the Lord!

Deborah was a faithful servant — a prophetess, Israel’s judge, and a mother in Israel. She had complete faith in the Lord. Barak was a soldier…a little timid…but willing to go if Deborah would lead them. Jael was a unlikely and unexpected contributor to the victory. She didn’t have to do anything, but she stepped up.

The song of victory in chapter 5 tells the story in poetic imagery…it is a beautiful account of the great victory God brought to the people that day. One thing that stood out to me immediately was the celebration of willing leaders and volunteers. It is repeated again in verse 9

Judges 5:9 NIV

My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord!

Big Idea: Willing leaders and volunteers gladly give themselves to God’s battle plan

Willing leaders gladly give themselves to God’s battle plan

Transitional: Who is the best example today of a leader willingly giving themselves?

I. Jesus Christ — the self-giving servant leader

When Deborah commissioned Barak to lead 10,000 men into battle, the people rallied. They had hope because God gave them a promise.

If Deborah hadn’t been obedient…if Barak hadn’t submitted himself willingly, and if Jael had simply done whatever she could to save her hide…there would have been no victory that day. People do not respect leaders that are not willing to step into the battle.

This is God’s way…He uses willing people. Jesus set the example for us.

He laid down His life

There are many passages that affirm this truth…here is one:

1 John 3:16 NIV

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

He calls us to follow His example

Ephesians 5:1–2 NIV

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Following Christ’s example — willing to give all in order that people might be saved

Since the beginning of the church....countless thousands have given their all --- to spread the news of Jesus. Careers, fortunes, their own well-being and health, their very lives (martyrs)

Again…Jesus set the example and He calls us to follow Him

Hebrews 12:2 NIV

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Transitional: When we consider the fact that God loves us perfectly — Jesus is the proof of that...

II. Self-giving is the least we can do

Eph 5:1-2

II. Self-giving is the least we can do

Self-giving is the least we can do…after all...

We belong to God

We belong to God by creation

Psalm 100:3 NIV

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

We belong to God by redemption

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NIV

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Everything good comes from God

Acts 17:25 NIV

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

1 Corinthians 4:7 NIV

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

We willingly surrender

Everything good comes from God

Giving ourselves to God

2 Corinthians 8:5 NIV

And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Giving ourselves to one another

2 Corinthians 8:5 NIV

And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Giving ourselves to serving God

Romans 6:19 NIV

I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

Giving ourselves to serving God

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Judges 5:2 NIV

“When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves— praise the Lord!

A life of self-denial is liberating

Matthew 16:24 NIV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Philippians 3:8 NIV

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ

2 Corinthians 12:15 NIV

So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?

Phi

We are blessed when we give ourselves to God

Deborah, Barak, and Jael were used of God to lead the people to a great victory — they were blessed because they gave themselves to God and His plan

God will bless you in unfathomable ways

Matthew 19:27–29 NIV

Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Conclusion

When leaders lead…God brings amazing victories

When volunteers step up…God blesses their faithfulness with victories

Willing leaders gladly give themselves to God’s battle plan

Willing leaders and volunteers gladly give themselves to God’s battle plan

Judges 5:2 NIV

“When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves— praise the Lord!

I looked up that word “willingly” in the Hebrew and in context

Part of the meaning was simple — stirred up to make a voluntary decision to willingly or freely do something

Another connection with that word had to do with the sense of abandon with which it would be done. It is compared to a commander or soldier letting their hair down....as a sign of a vow to willingly go into battle without any reservation whatsoever.

Challenge

God is lifted up when His people step up as willing volunteers and leaders — to defend the name of Jesus and to bring the message of salvation and life that is found in Jesus

It is a cause for celebration and praise when people say “absolutely” to the Lord’s call.

Video: Pastor Brunson praying for the president

Are you willing to be leader, a volunteer to the Lord for each day’s battle plan?

In the church

One way of being a willing leader is to say “yes” to discipleship

Discipleship, Bible study, etc.

Another way is to say “Yes” to simply be committed — to make it a priority

Another way is to say “yes” to obvious needs in the church

teachers, maintenance, organizers, planners, sourcers

Music, worship, technology

In the family

We must realize that one of the most ferocious battlefields we face is the enemy’s desire to destroy the family

Lead…your own families

Help…other families

Set example for our church family

In the community

With Jesus as the leading message...

love unconditionally

serve where you can

support good things

defend good things