Built for War: Leading in tough times

How does a real man lead his family when the world around him is falling apart? This is the one sermon you don't want to miss as America proceeds at full speed towards the side of a cliff.

Series

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Built for War: Leading in tough times 

-I’ve lead church & family thru – 9-11-01; $ crash 07/08; BLM, COVID, 8th prez election

-Leadership is more critical in times of war than times of peace 

We are living in war time, not peace time  

  1. Physical War: Ukraine, Israel (Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Iran) 
  2. Spiritual War: Ephesians 6:12 we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
  3. We are seeing evil become normalized & celebrated 
  4. Political War: Proverbs 29:2 – When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
  5. Very contentious election season (Biden out, Trump 2x assassination) 

-Economy – Religious Liberty – Parental Rights – Safety = all @ stake 

= Very divided nation

  • Personal War: 1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
  • Personal addictions, obstacles, temptations, crises – you/family/business 
  • Seasonal War – $ pressure, work demands, year-end responsibilities, ext family 
  • There is a lack of leadership in every level of society 
  • Our culture rewards & encourages victims not victors

= Leaders assume more A. responsibility, B. risk C. anxiety D. criticism 

  1. This is why young men are not launching. 
  2. This is why grown men are not leading. 
  3. This is why older men are not finishing well. 

Where is your dominion? 

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

=e.g. – husband, father, grandfather, employer, ministry leader, community leader 

  1. Is this need/problem my responsibility to fix? If yes, take responsibility. If no, hold the responsible person accountable. 
  2. Is this need/problem my fault? If yes, repent by owning your failure and changing your mindset and actions. 

Action #1: Pray 

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

  • God knows the future & can help you plan for what’s next. 
  • Keep seeking God’s plan = Listening Prayer 

Action #2: Plan

Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

  1. Satan has a plan for you, and you need a different plan 
  2. You can make excuses, or you can make plans 

= Wise Counsel – vs mentor myth

Annual Vision Retreat & Weekly Calendar Meeting 

Action #3: Push

Proverbs 14:23 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 

  1. There is no “quick fix”
  2. It costs the same energy & money to succeed or fail (e.g. marriage) 

Action #4: Pivot 

Proverbs 22:3 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

  • Process VS Pivot leadership 

= Reasons men don’t Pivot: 1. Stubbornness 2. Inner vow 3. Pride

Discussion Questions

How can we pray for you?  

Who is the greatest leader you’ve ever followed? 

What did God the Holy Spirit highlight for you in the talk?

What is the next step you need to take to become the man God is calling you to be? 

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Mark Driscoll

It's all about Jesus! Read More