Pastor Richard Waialeale
November 27, 2016 - W1648

Did you know that we're all leaders? When you said, "yes" to Jesus, when you said "I will follow Him," Jesus marked your life. If you're a follower of Jesus, that makes you a leader because people will follow you because you're something different.

In the Bible, 2 Timothy is a letter that Paul wrote to Timothy while he was in prison in Rome just before he died. 2 Timothy is probably the last recorded book or letter that's in the Bible that Paul wrote. Paul loved Timothy, and his writings to Timothy provide us with valuable insights and life lessons. It's the passing of leadership from one generation to the next. Paul goes on to say that the Holy Scriptures is able to make us wise and equip us for every good work.

There's a quote by Bob Marley, and he says, "The greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively."

Whether we realize it or not, our example leaves an impression on others. Influence is a powerful mark of leadership.

John Maxwell, author on leadership ?? speaker, pastor ?? probably has the best definition of leadership. He says this:

"Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flow charts. It's about one life influencing another."

Today I want to show you how everyone can learn how to mark your life through leadership. There are three principles that the apostle Paul talks about. If you let these principles flow into your life, it will give you a strong foundation for life and for ministry. It's the passing of leadership from one generation to the next generation.

1. Be a lifelong learner.

In 2 Timothy 3:14?15 it says:

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Paul is saying in this scripture to renew your commitment to fresh learning. If you learn one new thing, one new insight, or one new skill every day, in one year, you would have learned 365 new things. Take the initiative to discover new truths about yourself, dig deeply, because when you do, you'll discover materials out of which great futures are created.

Some people say, “Well, what if I make a mistake?” The fact of the matter is that we all make mistakes, but we learn from those mistakes. We grow from them because failures and mistakes, not only make us uniquely who we are, but it also teaches us powerful lessons.

Proverbs 1:5 says:

"...let the wise listen and add to their learning and let the discerning get guidance..."

In Pastor Wayne's book Sifted he writes this: "Remember, it takes a long time to learn how to teach and even longer to learn how to learn." Learning is a lifetime example for us. Never stop learning. Don't think you know it all because the moment you do, you're dead in the water.

In a similar way, people who think they know it all, don't often realize how big God's kingdom will be. When God comes calling with an offer of a lifetime, refuse to be distracted or doing something else. Don't be distracted and refuse by having a know?it?all attitude. I call it the ?? the KIA attitude.

Be a life?long learner. Always look for ways to keep growing, keep learning in your character, in your skills, even through the mistakes. The best way to do that is take a regular look at yourself. Do an evaluation on yourself. Take inventory. How can you get better? What can you learn? Where can you get more training from? Make a learning plan, if you have to.

To keep growing, I do my daily devotions. I'm learning one new insight every day; I also made it a goal for myself to read one book a month. Did you know 33 percent of high school graduates never pick up another book after they graduate? 42 percent of college graduates never pick up another book after they graduate.

Your future leadership depends solely upon what you make of it. Make that commitment to keep growing as a leader, as a follower of Jesus Christ, and as a person. They're all the same person in one, and that's you. Be a life?long learner, and then:

2. "Preach the Word and hear the Word. 

2 Timothy 4:1-2 says this:

"In the presence of God and of Jesus Christ…I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage---with great patience and careful instructions."

And then Paul goes on to say this in 2 Timothy 4:3?4.

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

Paul says if you're going to talk about Jesus, represent Him well, but he warns us that in the last days, people will be lovers of themselves. They will continually be seeking knowledge but never be able to walk the talk. Moreover Paul says to be aware of false teachers compromising and speaking heresy instead of sound doctrine.

So how do we learn sound doctrine and avoid the so?called "itchy ear" syndrome?

Titus 1:9 says:

"He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."

Scriptures were not given only for our information. They were given for our transformation. If you're going to preach the right Word, you need to hear the right Word. You got to be right next to Jesus and hear the right Word. Be sensitive to the promptings and the opportunities that God gives you.

That’s why the Bible says:

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (Jas. 4:8)

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me." His sheep hear Him speak because they're following Him. They're close to Him.

3. Finish the race.

   2 Timothy 4:7-8 says,

"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day ?? and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

The Bible often compares the Christian life to a race; right? It begins the moment you accept Jesus in your life when you said yes, and it ends the day He takes you home to be with Him forever, when you die. Paul knew that his death was near, but he had no regrets. When he received Jesus into his life, he was full?on on fire. Everything he did was for Christ.

You were made for a purpose, for a reason. God put you on this earth for a reason, and how you finish the race will make a difference not only in your life but for those around you. People are watching you. They know you're a Christian. They want to see what kind of life you're living. They're envious to see the race that God plans for you.

His plan and purpose for your life is not a flat terrain. It has hills, valleys, bumps, and curves. To finish the race, you don't have to have speed. You don't have to be the first one in. It's not about speed. It's not about being first or finishing in the top ten. You have to have endurance. Endurance is the key to this Christian life and this Christian race. And the reason why endurance is important is because few people finish the race consistently well.

It's somewhat like a marathon. In two weeks there's a Honolulu Marathon. I've run a couple of marathons---26 miles. It's at that 20?mile marker, right around Niu Valley, Aina Haina, where you hit what the runners call, “the wall” and your energy runs out. It doesn't matter if you drink water, Gatorade, those protein gels. They all go right through your body. Your legs go numb and muscle coordination is difficult. And then you start to doubt yourself---“I wonder if I'm going to finish this race.” It feels as if an elephant jumped out of the tree and hopped on your back and now you got to carry this thing until the finish line.

In life ?? and we all go through this or most of us go through this at times ?? it seems like we hit the wall, and sometimes you can see it coming, and then many times you don't see it coming.

These walls seem to come at different times and in different forms, but they all have a purpose. They're all there to test us to be a life?long learner. Walls challenge us to preach the Word and hear the Word. And walls offer us a goal to reach and to finish the race.

My goal in life is to finish well. I want to hit the finish line. I know Jesus is on the other side, and when I get there, He's going to say, "Eh, you did it. You finished well. Well, done, my good and faithful servant." Certainly, my goal for you is that we all finish well.

Be a life?long learner. Learn one thing every day, and preach the Word and hear the Word by hearing God clearly and staying true to scripture. And then, finally, finish that race that God has set before your eyes. You can only do that if Jesus is in your heart.  

Questions:

1. In what ways are Christians, leaders?

2. What are the three principles that Paul talks about in becoming a leader?

3. Why is it unwise to have a know-it-all attitude?

4. What is the danger of false teachers?

5. Why is it important to finish the race?