Jesus’ Authority: Your Authority is Nothing without His!

Jesus’ Authority: Your Authority is Nothing without His!       By Kelly Durant 

 

Luke 22:24-30

 

24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

 

2. Have you ever had a problem with a bill or service and you call the company and the person on the other line of the phone keeps running you around in circles? In frustration, what do you do? You say, “Can I speak to the manager?!” It’s obvious that some people cannot resolve certain issues, right?

 

The story of the life of Jesus covers so many subjects before His arrest, trail and crucifixion! If you want to know more, He covers everything from the coming of the Holy Spirit, to the hypocrisy in the fake people of God, to the Signs of the final days of earth.

You can read all of these things between John chapters 12 to 18, or in Matthew 23 to 26.

 

Today, however we are going to focus in on something in Luke. Jesus made it clear He only acted upon the authority of is Father and today we will examine the problem all of us have with authority. Imagine, Jesus knows He will be crucified in a very cruel way in the next few days, and the disciples are not perceiving this by all that He is teaching them, they re too worried about who will be first in the kingdom of God! 

 

3. My wife and I had meetings before with the coaches of the soccer leagues we did programs with and do you know what the biggest problem was with the leagues? It was not the kids getting hurt, or the lack of no money for uniform needs, it was a problem with authority, of who is in charge! Who obeyed who was always an issue.

 

Apart from coaches not respecting one another, a coach may say to some by standers, “Hey, you are too close to the field”; and the people instead of replying, “Okay, sorry,” and move their reply was, “Who are you to tell us anything? I will stand where I want!” 

 

Not respecting authority also included the people using the other fields in the park that they do not have permission to, and then we had the problem of losing the city park’s permission due to the disrespect of these people. 

 

In today’s world a lack of respect towards authority is creating a lot of repercussions in society and in the church! Authority is not about who is the most arrogant bully to just appropriate it, it is about leadership as Jesus modeled it.

 

4. You may be aware that some Anglo Americans complain that certain immigrants do not respect their culture, that they do not respect our laws, and they do not even try to learn English. This is true for certain ones, but not all. I wish for you to see after this message today how a person can earn respect as a leader no matter the culture since we are covering leadership, and the way Jesus did it.   

 

To begin with, as we see with these passages, a leader and his authority is not determined by himself or herself, arguing amongst others as to who should have it. It is determined by God, by functional systems, and by their merits of how one serves others. 

 

Let’s look here again in verse 26 that says that the leader is the one who serves, not just the one who sits at the table and expects to be served. Jesus says it clear in verse 27 that He wants us to follow His example by serving as He served. 

 

5. There are plenty of unprepared people today who want to be in charge because of some idea they have that their race deserves it, that their money should buy it, or that their position should just be because they want it?! Even people in the church, amongst some church leaders today, want to be the big leaders so they have others serving and obeying them. This is what is wrong with politics today, people who assume power, but they are people full of greed and self-interests not qualified and then everything falls apart! 

 

Those that know Regina and I well know that we are the first to arrive and the last to go and real leaders carry out responsively their duties. Leaders are usually doing humble tasks that others could do but often don’t do so a real leader must step up and do them.

 

I want you to know as servant leaders, as appointed commissioned Majors, we are not too proud to load and unload trucks, to cook and wash dishes, to vacuum the floors, to clean the bathrooms, and to sit and listen to people a long time when they want our ear.

 

6. I know dozens of you respect us and you have caught the same vision to serve and you are humble not concerned over what you need to do to help and Regina and I are proud of you. Jesus even says right here that we will be judges in the Kingdom of God if we show the fruits of serving Jesus in a way that wins others to the Kingdom of God.

 

In the Salvation Army we teach others to serve Jesus by example and working hard, not being concerned if you are the leader or not, and it is the best way to follow Jesus. What is it we say? “Saved to Serve, and also Saved to Save”! Actually, we see by the verses of today that Jesus expects every Christian to be so thankful to have His truth, love and Salvation which came from the cross, that he or she is willing to do anything at any time for Him and others. 

We must be willing to take up our cross and follow God, serving others in love. 

 

A leader is one who is serving so well that he or she has experienced blood, sweat, and tears on their own body, as Jesus had, to prove that they love God.

 

7. I will tell you that even amongst ourselves, in all church Corps, there has been these conversations of who is the greatest. It happens everywhere in all circles. It is just the dynamic of fallen creatures and our corrupt human nature. But respect from God, and from a handful of others, will only come with hard work. A title, or a piece of paper means nothing if the people do not see you sacrificing yourself, truly loving them by being concerned for them. 

 

Do you pray for another when you see they need it? Do you pray when you see another being out of place? In the end it is God wo corrects us! Consider this verse, Hebrews 5:8

though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. If Jesus learned like that, we too will need to learn by suffering as well!

 

If you want to know how to make Jesus happy with you, look at the good examples we know. Observe the people who have served in the body of Christ not even wanting a title of leadership. Some people have served hundred hours for years, faithfully being here without pay and you and I know their reward is in heaven. 

Most of you know in your heart if you are serving God as He wants you to or not. 

 

8. Many of you give all of your free time to the Lord and you come very often to help and serve in many ways and this makes you be a leader by merit. Regina and I, and many people are very thankful for you, and you will be the ones who will have rewards in heaven!

 

Matthew 25: 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” 

 

So, with us and with the Lord, anyone who wishes to be a leader and does not serve as Jesus did, will not be considered as one in this life nor the next. The proud will be abased, and the humble will be exalted.

Those that sit and want others to serve them at their table had better realize that Jesus expects them to be serving the table too! Who has authority in the eyes of Jesus? Only the ones who are obedient to submit and obey the rules, to do Jesus’ commands, serving others in love! Good followers make good leaders! 

Are you serving Jesus in love as we must do in The Salvation Army? Do you take up your cross daily and obey Jesus? Lead as Jesus led!

Leadership Jesus Way: What You Need

Leadership Jesus Way: What You Need     BY Kelly Durant Re: 5-26-23

I Tim 3:1-7  

2.Forest Gump! Who saw the movie? There is a part where he starts running across the U.S. from state to state and everyone that saw him running thinks he is a wise guru of some kind and that they need to follow and run with him. So from place to place he picks up more and more people following him expecting wisdom. But then after many months, and many people questioning… What are we running for, where are we going...he breaks down and his words of wisdom are, “I’m tired!” He wasn’t going anywhere! People wasted their time for nothing!

Believe it or not this stereotypes many people recognized as leaders in the world, who run from one cause to the next to support any old thing but in the end the followers discover that these leaders weren’t really going anywhere nor, was their cause worth what the public was sold! Like what happened to Lance Armstrong.  

Leadership today is very important! I am very pleased with most all of our Local Leaders! Leaders have followers, but have you ever asked yourself, what are my attributes that makes me worthy of having followers? 

Let’s review some principles of leadership that can help guide us on what can make us worthy.

3. Paul in the scripture of today tells Timothy what qualities leaders must possess. These are the basics of holiness, and we need more leaders in all areas, but we need leaders with good qualities and with the same vision as Jesus.

In the scripture we see what qualities a leader, or a bishop, or a Local Officer, (same position) needs with these words, and make the personal with each characteristic looking at yourself:

To be blameless, Can anyone accuse you of a wrong doing?; 

Faithful to his mate, Are you still there despite temptations?;

Vigilant, Do you worry about what could endanger others and the church?;

Sober, Do you confront with seriousness matters of concern?;

Hospitable, Will you receive and attend to visitors when they are here?;

Apt to teach, Are you training others for your job?

Not a drinker, Do you always remain without intoxication?;

Not violent, Do you have control over your anger?;

Not greedy, Do you want to be rich and that is your main focus?;

Patient, Can you endure the mistakes and problems of others with kindness and patience?;

Not argumentative, Some people love conflict and always speak the contrary, do you do that?;

Not covetous, Are you happy when someone prospers, or envious and hate them?

Controls his children, Are you involved with your kids to make them be courteous, respectful?;

Not a novice, Are you inexperienced in something but yet you want to be in charge?;

And with a good report with all, How many people like being with you and do they like you because you are an example of a servant?

 

These are some challenges from the scriptures. Do you possess these qualities as a leader? Most of you do have potential, but there are always some areas in which we all must grow. I personally believe in giving people a break, if most everything is good, say passing with a D or C grade, then there is potential! So, look over this list and let the Lord speak to you where you could grow. 

4. Regina and I have seen all kinds of leaders in our lives and all kinds of styles & personalities. In the scripture we see that the good is mentioned along with the negative not to have and I will give you the most common 3 bad examples we have seen in our experiences and then 3 positive points on how Jesus taught us to be.

1)      There is the leader who lacks respect to authority to the pastors, the Officers, the leaders in general, or the church to which he or she says they belong to. These are leaders who tell others behind your back they do not agree with things but in front of you they are silent because they know inwardly they are wrong. These are the argumentative and conflictive ones. Have you seen this kind?

We have heard that good followers make good leaders and that is because they listen and learn, but those who never follow never really learn anything to lead anyone with! Do you respect others?

2)      The prideful leader. This is the one who always thinks he or she knows more than you. They are like the taxi driver that you tell him the shortest way home, but he insists he knows better than you and takes you on a long route, has that ever happened to you? It did to me all the time in So. America! With no humility this kind of leader will never be useful nor train others because they always want others to see them as a great leader since they know everything, and they are selfish with their skills, knowledge, and delegation.

3)      The novice leader who doesn’t know what he or she is doing but is greedy with the power or position. Regina and I have been shocked sometimes when we have given a person a little power of authority in the church and then this person starts ordering everybody around to be serving them as if they were a slave driving boss! How sad it is when a person can seem nice but then with a title they have a personality change and tell everyone what to do. Have you seen that too?

5. So, what were Jesus’ principle ways of managing things as a leader? He chose some shady characters didn’t he? Fishermen, & tax collectors! He often stopped walking down the street to attend to the people who needed healing. He seemed to be ready for any situations that came up to use it as a teachable moment.

He even took time with the children when preaching. His style was very unique

6. -First point, Jesus called his 12 disciples from very different backgrounds. He formed a diverse teamwork! I want to work with each and every one of you as each person has a unique perspective, and all good leaders include everyone for decisions on their team. You are my team, the only one I have! Do you believe that each person here is valuable even though they may be very different from you?

 If we were to compare you to the disciples in this Corps I think we could see some here that are like John, Peter, and or Matthew, and there are faithful women followers too like Mary and Martha.

7. -Second, Jesus gave an example to his followers on how to bring the message of God’s Kingdom and salvation to the masses and to the individual people. He starts off in the synagogue reading from Isa 61, how He is the Messiah, God’s chosen, and then He goes on to preach the sermon on the mount to thousands. Later He travels and talks to only one woman at the well, and then to one lone rabbi, etc.

What we see is Jesus shares the message to everyone, anywhere, anyplace, and anytime! A leader is not just a leader in a group but also he is one to individual people as well! He teaches his followers how to adapt and be ready all the time as the scripture says,” Be instant in season out of season.” Do you share what you know with others? 

8. -Third, Jesus is the great Rabbi or teacher, so he is constantly teaching his disciples about the kingdom of God, preparing them for their mission of preaching and teaching the gospel to every creature to repeat what He did. 

We conclude that if you follow God, He expects you to learn to work together with others of the same mission in teamwork, even though they have their faults; observe and learn teachings while serving; and finally you get equipped to prepare others so they too will understand God’s plan in their lives and obey it and do the same.   2 Timothy 2:2

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

9. Now, after Jesus has gone in the clouds, what did the disciples do? The waited on the power of God in order to do the job!  Later they all eventually went in different directions to preach the gospel with their own leadership style! After the day of Pentecost, after Acts 1:8 God gave Acts 8:1, to get the mission done in all places so they hear the preaching of the gospel. And in the end each disciple ended up as leaders for Jesus in many different faraway places!

10. You may not end up getting killed for the mission as the first dicsples did but what did they do that you can do too? You can each fulfill the mission that God called you to! Don’t wait until the persecution either!

 11. 3 simple points: Jesus formed a team, Jesus shared the message to everyone along his way, and Jesus taught or prepared his team on what to do to repeat the mission after He was gone. 

Something great and wonderful is God is raising many of you up as leaders here to take care of all the new people that will be coming in as new members! Don’t forget, your job as leader is YOU must train others! 

 You may ask then, well we are to imitate Jesus, to be more like Him, so how are we doing that in the Hialeah Corps? Well, first of all, all of us as a team must continue on empowering each other as better leaders by sharing our talents and skills. Also, always we need to get you signed up and get qualified on paper to be recognized.

Think of how you will be spending time to be getting preparing for your individual tasks. By now most of you have gotten the Local Officer’s Job Descriptions and if not we will give you copy. Many of you have many talents and we just need to get you prepared and get you more busy! 

12. Each of you should be taking care of each other. We had a list of who would be in touch with who, so after one year, did it help? Do we need to revive it? You have already been learning Bible from each other and you time will come for you to have your own band of 10 to 12 followers that you will be training in the Word, in doctrine, and how to keep on doing your job after you go.

Let’s imagine this Corps only 10 years from now. Where will you be then? It will be the ones in their 20’s and teens that will be best equipped to take over, don’t you think? If today you can go back 10 years and remember what it was like here, some of you were here, but you can name only a few that have been here even that long! So, time always implies a changing of the guard and a new set of leaders and members, and do you think we have people who are prepared enough to handle the jobs then?

 When I am not here on a Sunday, there are several of you that are very capable of preaching and running things, I hope that when any one of you is absent too, another person here will be trained by you in your job position to replace you too.  Have you prepared someone?

13. So let’s review, leadership is all about being worthy, holy, qualified, and trained, prepared, and then passing all of that on to the one behind you! In the Salvation Army, do you wear the uniform, be faithful to inform another when you cannot attend to something, and do you volunteer to do what you are capable of doing as much as possible?

Jesus was the model leader to his followers, showing love for all and he took time for the masses and each person who had a need! Jesus taught them, and Paul taught Timothy and the ones after them taught others. 

Ask yourself, am I being faithful to train another? Am I being a good example and good mentor? Young people, who do you want to be your mentor to be amongst the more experience ones? We need to make ourselves more likable, more patient, more willing, and more like Jesus, are you ready to lead?  Let’s pray…

Jesus’ Leadership: Your Authority is Nothing without His! A pre-Easter Message

Jesus’ Leadership: Your Authority is Nothing without His! A pre-Easter Message

Kelly Durant        4-2-06 Re: 3-12-23

 

Luke 22:24-30

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 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. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

 

2. Have you ever had a problem with a bill or service, and you call the company and the person on the other line of the phone keeps running you around in circles? In frustration, what do you do? You say, “Can I speak to the manager?!” It’s obvious that some people cannot resolve certain issues, right? You need one in authority! A leader covers all the issues!

 

The story of the life of Jesus covers so many subjects before His arrest, trail and crucifixion! If you want to know more, He covers everything from the coming of the Holy Spirit, to the hypocrisy in the fake people of God, to the Signs of the final days of earth.

You can read all of these things between John chapters 12 to 18, or in Matthew 23 to 26.

 

Today, however we are going to focus in on something in Luke that happened right after the Lord’s supper and before Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus made it clear He only acted upon the authority of His Father and today we will examine the problem all of us have with authority. Imagine, Jesus knows He will be crucified in a very cruel way in the next few days, and the disciples are not perceiving this by all that He is teaching them, they’re too worried about who will be first in the kingdom of God! 

 

3. My wife and I had meetings before with the coaches of the soccer leagues whom we did programs with and do you know what the biggest problem was with the leagues? It was not the kids getting hurt, or the lack of no money for uniform needs, it was a problem with authority, of who is in charge! Who was the leader and who obeyed who was always an issue.

 

Apart from coaches not respecting one another, a coach may often have said to some bystanders,” Hey, you are too close to the field, move back”; and the people instead of replying, “Okay, sorry, coach” and move their reply was often, “Who are you to tell us anything? I will stand where I want!”  Many people are like goats, rebellious!

 

Not respecting authority also included the people using the other fields in the park that they did not have permission to, and then we had the problem of losing the city park’s permission due to the disrespect of these people not listening to us nor obeying rules. 

 

In today’s world a lack of respect towards authority is creating a lot of negative repercussions in society and in the church! Leadership is not about who is the most arrogant bully to just appropriate it, it is about leadership as Jesus modeled it. Jesus must be our top authority!

 

4. You may be aware that some Anglo Americans complain that new immigrants do not respect their culture, and that they do not respect the laws. When you travel abroad and meet most Americans, they are the same way not following customs or language. I wish for you to see after this message today how a person can earn respect as a leader no matter the culture by doing leadership the way Jesus did it. Leadership is not a race or cultural issue, it is a God ordained issue, and Jesus is the One who empowers and guides each person, not ourselves. 

 

To begin with, as we see with these passages, a leader and his authority is not determined by himself or herself, arguing amongst others as to who should have it. For spiritual matters is determined by God, for our earthly matters it is by functional systems with rules, by skills by logic and by the merits of how one serves others, and by putting into practice good leadership. 

 

Let’s look here again in verse 26 that says that the leader is the one who serves, not just the one who sits at the table and expects to be served. Jesus says it clear in verse 27 that He wants us to follow His example by serving as He served. 

 

5. There are plenty of unprepared people today who want to be in charge because of some idea they have that their race, place, or face deserves it, that their money should buy it, or that their position should just be because they deserve it?! Even people in the church, amongst some church leaders today, wanting to be the big leaders so they have others serving and obeying them. This is what is wrong with politics today, people who assume power, but they are people full of greed and self-interests not qualified and then we see with them everything falls apart! 

 

Jesus’ way is the standard! Those of you that know Regina and I well know that we are the first to arrive and the last to go and real leaders carry out responsively their duties. Leaders are usually doing humble tasks that others could do but often don’t do so the real leaders do them.

 

I want you to know as servant leaders, as appointed commissioned Majors, we are not too proud to load and unload trucks, to cook and wash dishes, to vacuum the floors, to clean the bathrooms, and to sit and listen to people when they want our ear. Great leaders must be humble like Jesus who washed the feet of those He loved. 

 

6. I know some of you respect us and you have caught the same vision to serve, and you are humble not concerned over what you need to do to help, and Regina and I are proud of you. Jesus even says right here that we will be judges in the Kingdom of God if we show the fruits of serving Jesus in a way that wins others to the Kingdom of God. We will be judges in the New Heaven and earth Kingdom!

 

In the Salvation Army we teach others to serve Jesus by example and working hard, not being concerned if you are the leader or not, and it is the best way to follow Jesus. What is it we “Saved to Serve, and also Saved to Save”! Actually, we see by the verses of today that Jesus expects every Christian to be so thankful to have His truth, love and Salvation which came from the cross, that he or she is willing to do anything at any time for Him and others. 

We must be willing to take up our cross and follow God, serving others in love. 

 

A true leader is one who is serving so well that he or she has experienced blood, sweat, and tears on their body, as Jesus had to, to prove that they love God.

 

7. I will tell you that even amongst ourselves, as in all Corps, there has been these conversations of who is the greatest. It happens everywhere in all circles! It is just the dynamic of fallen creatures and our corrupt human nature. But respect from God, and from a handful of others, will only come with hard work. A title, or a piece of paper means nothing if the people do not see you sacrificing yourself, truly loving them by being concerned for them. 

 

Do you pray for another when you see they need it? Do you pray when you see another being out of place? In the end it is God who corrects us! Consider this verse, Hebrews 5:8

though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. If Jesus learned like that, all of us as well will need to learn by suffering as well!

 

If you want to know how to make Jesus happy with you, look at the good examples we know. Observe the people who have served in the body of Christ not even wanting a title of leadership. Some people have served hundreds of hours for years, faithfully being here without pay and you and I know their reward is in heaven. 

Most of you know in your heart if you are serving God as He wants you to or not. 

 

8. Many of you give all of your free time to the Lord and you come very often to help and serve in many ways, and this makes you be a leader by merit. Regina and I, and many people are very thankful for you, and you will be the ones who will have rewards in heaven!

 

Matthew 25: 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” 

 

So, with us and with the Lord, anyone who wishes to be a leader and does not serve as Jesus did, will not be considered as one worthy in this life nor the next. The proud will be abased, and the humble will be exalted! Those that sit and want others to serve them at their table had better realize that Jesus expects them to be serving the table too! Who has authority in the eyes of Jesus? Only the ones who are obedient to submit and obey the rules, to do Jesus’ commands, serving others in love! Good followers make good leaders! 

Are you serving Jesus in love as we must do in The Salvation Army? Do you take up your cross daily and obey Jesus? Lead as Jesus led! Ask yourself, who looks up to me? Do they see Jesus in me? Ask yourself, does it matter I might be last in this world? The first are last in heaven! Pray..