Leadership "The Jesus Way" >>>

LEADERSHIP "THE JESUS WAY"
LESSON 1 of 4

JESUS, OUR EXAMPLE

A leader is a person who directs, guides, instructs, and leads others. Jesus Christ was by far the greatest leader of all time, and we can learn much from his example.

1. His Accomplishments:
a. Until age thirty Jesus had no organization or kingdom, no disciples or followers, no one to back Him in His project. He had no wealth, or any kind of equipment. He had no claim to fame because He had not performed any miracles or done anything else out of the ordinary to attract the attention of others! Apparently He had no close friends, or anybody of high status that could promote Him or His cause. His father was a humble carpenter.

b. To make things more difficult, He lived in an age when they had no newspapers, radios, television sets, or fax machines. When He began His ministry, He had no accompanying choirs, singers, or musicians; no carpeted platforms, and no fancy speaker systems.

c. Yet in 3-1/2 years He had laid the groundwork for His church which would fill the earth. He first called and trained the twelve disciples, then the seventy disciples, and proceeded to tell every believer that they could have a ministry (Mark 16:17-18).

d. His church grew from 120 believers to 3,120 believers in one day, the birthday of the church. It soon increased to five thousand. A few years later it was said that all Asia had heard the words of Jesus Christ! (Acts 19:20). The Jews in Thessalonica had to admit concerning the apostles, the men Jesus had trained, "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also" (Acts 17:6).

Are we making that kind of an impact upon our world today? If not, why not? Jesus has promised us: "Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12).

After He gave His disciples the great commission, He encouraged them: "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20).

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He poured out the Holy Ghost (the Spirit of Jesus Christ) upon His disciples and it was written concerning them: "And they went forth, and preached everywere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following" (Mark 16:20).

2. Jesus, As Our Example: We know that Jesus is God manifested in the flesh, but we must also remember that everything He did was to be an example for us. He promised that we could do even greater works than He did, because we have His Spirit living within us. We must learn to follow the examples that Jesus has given to us.

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, 'Suffer (allow) it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered (allowed) him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:13-17).

The plan of salvation as taught by Jesus, and the men he trained, is:

1. Repent (be sorry for your sins, and turn from them).

2. Be baptized (by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ) for the forgiveness of sins.

3. Receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

Jesus did not just teach something, He practiced it, as well. He had no sins to repent of, but as our example (to fulfill all righteousness), He was baptized. The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Jesus Christ even at that time (Colossians 2:9), but for our example, the Spirit of God descended upon Him (as a dove, so it could be seen), and a voice was heard, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

All true believers in the early church were baptized by immersion into the name of Jesus Christ. When they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke in other languages as evidence that they had received the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:4; 10:45-46; 19:6.

When Jesus "received His Holy Spirit baptism," a voice was heard, saying, "This is my beloved Son." When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the "speaking with tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance," is the confirming voice that we have become sons and daughters of the living God!

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16). ds


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