Leading for Legacy
Letters to Leaders • Sermon • Submitted
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· 61 viewsWhen you positively influence others, you change the course of generations to come. How will your influence shape the next generation?
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"Using your influence to leave a lasting impact."
"Using your influence to leave a lasting impact."
Introduction
Many wonder what will be said about them when they die. And although this is a good thought, the answer for most is the same. "Bill was a good person, a best friend, and a fantastic spouse. He was the nicest person you could ever meet and would do anything for you." which may or may not be true.
What if you used your influence to add value to others changing them in such a meaningful way, that your impact would last for generations?
In the next few moments, I want to help you move from an honorable person to a person of lasting impact and legacy.
We’ve been looking at Paul's last letter to Timothy just before Paul's execution in Rome.
In every chapter, Paul gives Timothy explicit instruction in the art of providing eternal influence for his generation. Each chapter emphasizes the Word of God.
Chapter One: 2 Timothy 1:13
"Follow the patter of sound words."
Chapter Two: 2 Timothy 2:15
"Rightly handling the word of truth."
Chapter Three: 2 Timothy 3:14
"Continue in what you learned and have firmly believed."
Chapter Four: 2 Timothy 4:2
"Preach the word."
Through these chapters, Paul establishes the agent of influence, The Word of God. It didn't start with Timothy, nor would it end with him. Nevertheless, it's Paul's leadership that leaves the legacy. The Word of God demands a leader, a preacher, a teacher, a guide, and a mentor that will leave a legacy for others to follow.
Who is the person in your life that has left a lasting legacy of the Word of God in your life?
A grandmother and mother like in Timothy’s case.
Or Maybe a Sunday school teacher like Wayne Lucus, Bill Cannon, and Brother O’neal that changed my life.
A friend like Ananias that took a chance on a guy named Saul of Tarsus when no one else would.
Paul’s testimony at the end of his life will help us to understand what it takes to leave a lasting legacy.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
There are three things required to lead with lasting impact and legacy:
The Good Fight. "I have fought the good fight."
The Finish Line. "I have finished the race."
Keeping The Faith. "I have kept the faith."
The Good Fight
The Good Fight
The first key to leading for legacy: Get in the fight.
The first key to leading for legacy: Get in the fight.
There is a war raging all around us. It's been raging since the dawn of time. A fight that many can't see, touch, smell, or taste, but you can defiantly feel it. It's the fight for the souls of humanity. The enemy desires to steal, kill, and destroy. But God desires to rescue, redeem, and restore.
Fighting the "good fight" means bringing hope to the hopeless no matter the cost (and there is always a cost). Paul had given all of himself: body, soul, mind, and spirit so that others would realize the hope in Jesus. We call this hope, "the Gospel."
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
The good fight still rages today as it did in Paul's day, 67 A.D., just as it did in Ezekiel's day of 590 B.C. The rulers, the princes, the priest, and the people were destroying each other and covering it. When the leaders are bad everyone suffers. When the leaders get better everyone is better.
The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.”
As we see destruction coming, I wonder who will build the wall and who will stand in the breach that the wrath of God would stay one more day for one more soul.
When we fight the good fight :
When we fight the good fight :
Good overcomes evil
Love triumphs over hatred
Forgiveness conquers judgment
Mercy overshadows punishment
Giving is more profitable than receiving.
Action is better than words.
We can no longer sit on the sideline and watch our world go to hell in an hand basket we must build up the wall of hope and stand in the gap for the broken.
This is not a call to arms but a call to love, care, and comfort the wounded and the broken hearted.
We must share the hope of redemption and salvation to a lost and dying world.
The Finish Line
The Finish Line
The second key to leading for legacy: Stay the course.
The second key to leading for legacy: Stay the course.
It doesn't matter how you start. What matters is how you finish.
Everyone has a race to run, a course to finish. You are not called to be first but you are called to finish the course.
There were 13,000 runners in the Publix Atlanta Marathon this year.
It was won by Benjarmin Kopecky at a time of 2:29:43.
The last recorded time in place 2153 was by Marco Turnipseed at 6:57:18
What do you think Marco said when he crossed the finish line. I did it. I finished the race.
As Paul said his farewell to the elders in Ephesus, he explained this race Jesus had called him to run.
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
The Spiritual course we are called to run is complicated and treacherous.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
3 Tips to finishing your course in life.
3 Tips to finishing your course in life.
Put disciplines and safeguards in your life that will keep you on track.
Keep your eye on the prize. (Remove the distraction that gets you off course.)
Don't run alone.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” —African Proverb
Keeping the Faith
Keeping the Faith
The third key to leading for legacy: Stay truth to “The Faith”
The third key to leading for legacy: Stay truth to “The Faith”
Faith is trusting in evidence that you cannot see.
Faith is trusting in evidence that you cannot see.
“The Faith” is abiding in Christ Jesus. (The brotherhood of the Saints of God)
“The Faith” is abiding in Christ Jesus. (The brotherhood of the Saints of God)
There are 43 instances of “the Faith” and only found in the New Testament.
By 32 A.D. the teachings of Jesus were referred to as “The faith”
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
5 ways to keep “The Faith”
5 ways to keep “The Faith”
Earnestly contend for “the faith” (Jude 3)
Stand firm in “the faith, act like men, be strong. (1 Cor 16:13)
Walk in unity of “the faith” (Eph. 4:13)
Continue in “the faith” (Col. 1:23)
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.”
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Closing Thoughts
Tweetable Quote: “Leading for lasting impact and legacy doesn’t happen by accident, but a willful determination to keep the faith and pass it on to others.”
Paul’s legacy of the gospel is still changing lives today.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.