During my time at both Norwegian Cruise Line, and the Walt Disney Company, we had training activities ranging from sales, communication, thoughtfulness, and leadership. Leadership trainings usually prepare you for taking up the position and what the position’s role is or was. That is not the leadership I am going to talk about today. Leadership is an action, a way of life, a behavior that leaders and lay people alike can and should do. Let’s look at the bible for some more insight.
The first characteristic of leadership is giving of one’s self. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26 KJV) Leadership is not just pointing people in the right direction, but sacrificing and taking them there yourself.
Another characteristic of leadership is following God’s directions. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.” (Exodus 17:5-6 KJV) Here we find Moses and the people of Israel in the dessert struggling for water. Moses did not question God, he did what was directed from the Lord, even if it would look foolish. But when a person follows God and leads others to do the same the results are heavenly. Go get you some water.
A third leadership characteristic is serving others. Leaders have to be willing to lay down their own selves and needs to serve the people around them. In politics a mayor, president, congressman and senator are still called public servants. In the Body of Christ, a leader is still called a servant. Let’s look at John 13 for a clue into true leadership from Jesus. Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; he riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 1Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.” Another scripture highlights God’s view of leadership. Here in the book of Matthew we find Jesus defining leadership. “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28 NLT) Jesus pressed the disciples to serve them so that he can truly demonstrate one of the greatest acts of true leadership.
Leadership is an activity that anyone can do. We have to trust ourselves and the ones around us to show true leadership. We must sacrifice and love unconditionally. That is the heart of a true leader.
Lead on GBFIC, family, and friends, let your love and leadership shine through!
Thank you for reading another Bishop’s Buzz. A buzz is not a buzz unless you share it!
God Bless,
Bishop Adam Blackstock
Leadership
December 15, 2021 • Exodus 17:5–6, Matthew 20:26–28, Matthew 16:24–26
No Other King
April 1, 2022 • Bishop Adam G. Blackstock
In the book of Psalms, we find a powerful passage of scripture that gives us a great illustration of Jesus. He is strong and mighty and the King of Glory. Besides that account in Psalms, we find other accounts that describe Yeshua as the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the Prince of Peace. No other King is described like that ever before God, and no other king will be described like that ever again. There is a simple reason for this plain hard fact, as Kenneth Copeland would say “Jesus is Lord.” He, being Jesus, means so much to Prophetess and me that we say it after every radio broadcast as well. Repeat after me --- There is no other king because Jesus is Lord. Let’s look at a few passages of scriptures that reinforce my message today. The first is Psalm 24:1-10. It reads “The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, That seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” (Psalm 24:1-10 KJV) We find David, the writer of this Psalm defines God as the King of Glory. Repeat after me --- There is no other king because Jesus is Lord. Secondly, Paul, in the first letter to Timothy tells us that the Lord is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It reads “that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 1which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 1who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:14-16 KJV) Repeat after me --- There is no other king because Jesus is Lord. Lastly God has also revealed this same powerful revelation to John in the Book of Revelation during the great revelation. In the book, it is mentioned twice verbatim. First, in chapter 17 and again in chapter 19. Let’s look at both of those scriptures. “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14 KJV) Notice in this text that we that follow Jesus are called, chosen, and faithful. I declare and decree that you are called, chosen, and faithful. Two chapters later Jesus says the same thing. Here it reads “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:15-16 KJV) Here it is written on His clothes and body. I am believing for us to see Jesus like that again. Repeat after me --- There is no other king because Jesus is Lord. In conclusion, God will reveal Himself to us from this point on as King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the King of Glory!!! He is doing it in my life right now. Repeat after me --- There is no other king because Jesus is Lord. Thank you for reading another Bishop’s Buzz. A buzz is not a buzz unless you share it! God Bless, Bishop Adam Blackstock