From Capetown to Keetmanshoop is 982 km, or 614 miles. The road is paved all the way. 95% of the way is 1 lane in each direction. They are working on about a 75 km section where they are trying to widen the road and make some shoulder in some areas and a passing lane on the uphills in some other areas. In this part of the road it is down to 1 lane. They have flagmen at each end and you may have to sit for up to ten minutes if it isn't your directions turn to go.
So, we arrived in Keetmans in about 13 hours, at about 4:00 PM (you gain an hour going up and lose it coming back). Not to bad for having to stop 2 times for fuel, 1 time for lunch and another time for a "potty break" and leg stretching.
The church had a "Thanks for coming" assembly that evening, they sang some songs and had a prayer or two. Then we went to our bed and breakfast "Gesserts" on 13th Street. It's a lovely home and they are a very nice couple.
Saturday morning we got up to head over to the building to teach. Irene taught 2 classes to the ladies - the one on "Love and Strength" and the other on "God's Anger Management Course" spoken about in an earlier post. Her task was made more complex by the fact that her lessons had to be translated into Ovumbo by one of the ladies in attendance so the sisters from Luderitz could understand them.
I taught a the men a class on "Spiritual Leadership" and another on "Examples in Spiritual Leadership in the book of Philippians." I had taught these same two lessons at the Cape Bible School the first Saturday we were here.
In the afternoon I taught a combined class on "Revive Us Again to a Love for Holiness." It was a sermon I had presented during the sojourn we had in Port Lavaca at the end of March that I think is appropriate in many churches today. It's a PowerPoint lesson so here is a movie of it. To stop it to read the "slides" just push the "PAUSE" button.
All told, with lunch and dinner and a 1 1/2 hour sing-a-long - our day lasted from 11 AM - 7 PM.
In our Sunday morning assembly I finished the second 1/2 of the sermon on Holiness.
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH
I. In all things we are to become “Like
Christ”
Romans 8:29 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:
Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you—
Colossians 1:27 to whom God was pleased to make known
what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Philippians 2:5 Have this mind in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in
the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be
grasped, 7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man,
he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of
the cross. 9 Wherefore also God
highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things
under the earth, 11 and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it
is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I
now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
2 Corintians 3:12 Having therefore such a
hope, we use great boldness of speech, 13 and are not as Moses, who put a
veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on
the end of that which was passing away: 14 but their minds were hardened: for until this
very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not
being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ. 15 But unto
this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. 16 But
whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the
Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty. 18 But we
all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are
transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the
Spirit.
II. How does Jesus said he “led”
Matthew 20:25-28 But
Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles
lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever
would become great among you shall be your minister; 27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your
servant: 28 even as the Son of man
came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom
for many.
Romans 15:3 For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as
it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye
through his poverty might become rich.
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore let us also, seeing we are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and
the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race
that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter
of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3
For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself,
that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.
III. How does Jesus say WE should “Lead”
Matthew 23:8-12
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren. 9
And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, even he
who is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is
your master, even the Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be
your servant. 12
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble
himself shall be exalted.
III. What did the Holy Spirit guide the Apostles to Teach
about New Covenant Leaders and Leadership
1 Peter 5:1-4
The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be
revealed: 2
Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of
constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for
filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;3 neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you,
but making yourselves ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd
shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.
1 Timothy 3:1 Faithful is the saying,
If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 The bishop
therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate,
sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 no
brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money; 4 one that
ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all
gravity;
2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be
gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,
25 in meekness correcting them
that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the
knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may recover themselves out of the
snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.
Titus 1:7 For the bishop must be blameless, as God’s
steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of
filthy lucre;
8 but given to hospitality, a lover of good,
sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled; 9 holding to the faithful word which is according
to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and
to convict the gainsayers.
Examples of New Covenant
Leadership From Philippians
The Book of Philippians gives us excellent examples of how
New Covenant Leaders put the NEEDS of OTHERS above their own and themselves:
The Principle:
Philippians 2:1 If there is therefore
any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the
Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, 2 make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind,
having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3 doing nothing through faction or through
vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; 4 not
looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of
others.
The
Example of Jesus:
Philippians 2:5-8 Have this mind in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus:
6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the
being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a
servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.
The
Example of Christian Leaders:
Paul:
Philippians 1:21-26 For to me to live is Christ, and to die
is gain. 22 But if
to live in the flesh, — if this shall bring fruit from my work, then
what I shall choose I know not.
23 But
I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with
Christ; for it is very far better: 24 yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for
your sake. 25 And
having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all,
for your progress and joy in the faith; 26 that
your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you
again.
Timothy:
Philippians 2:19-22 But I hope in the Lord
Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort,
when I know your state. 20 For I have no man likeminded, who will care truly
for your state.
21 For they all seek their own, not the things of
Jesus Christ.
22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child serveth
a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.
Epaphroditus:
Philippians 2:25 But I counted it necessary to send to you
Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your
messenger and minister to my need; 26 since he longed after you all, and was sore
troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick:
27 for
indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him
only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I have
sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when ye see him again, ye may
rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy;
and hold such in honor: 30 because for the work of Christ he came nigh unto
death, hazarding his life to supply that which was lacking in your service
toward me.
The
Test for THEM:
Philippians 4:2,3 I exhort Euodia, and I
exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yea, I beseech thee also, true
yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with
Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of
life.
The
Key to Becoming a Christ-like Leader:
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things in him that
strengtheneth me.
The
Reward for becoming a Christ-like Leader:
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore also God highly exalted
him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the
Lord, and he shall exalt you.
1 Peter 5:5,6 Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder.
Yea, all of you gird yourselves with
humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace
to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;
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