What is it Like to Be MORE Than a
Sheep?
Biblical Leadership Series
Matthew 4:19
Oct 27, 2013 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (1st Peter 2:25)
A.
Last week, we learned that we all need
to become very good followers of Jesus Christ!
1.
There is no other starting place for
anyone
2.
We all start out as sinners, lost and
in trouble with God
3.
Like sheep that have gone astray
4.
And then the great Shepherd came and
drew you to Himself! He became YOUR great Shepherd
5.
And from the moment you were born
again, you have been following, learning, growing… at least you SHOULD have
been!
B.
Well, this week, I want to move on to
becoming MORE than just followers – more than just sheep!
1.
Obviously there are some big
differences between sheep and a shepherd
2.
Sheep eat – Shepherds feed!
3.
Sheep flock together – Shepherds stand
alone!
4.
Sheep follow where the flock is heading
– Shepherds call the sheep to follow him!
5.
Sheep have few cares or worries –
Shepherds carry heavy burdens!
6.
Sheep love eating and sleeping –
Shepherds love the sheep!
C.
Let me ask you some questions…
1.
Why were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
able to STAND, ALONE, when absolutely everyone else around them couldn’t?
2.
Why was young David able to face down
and kill a massive giant named Goliath, when seasoned and well-trained Israeli
soldiers couldn’t?
3.
Why was Paul of Tarsus able to go from
town to town, and be stoned, beaten, and imprisoned, and yet leave a Bible
believing, soul-winning, Gospel preaching church in almost every place he
visited?
4.
It wasn’t because any of them just went
with the flow! No!
D.
It is SOOOOO easy to just “go with the
flow…”
1.
To be only a follower of the crowd – of
the flow of the world around you
2.
A dead fish goes nowhere other than the
water takes them!
3.
You may never be a pastor, or a mayor,
or a Taoiseach
4.
You may not lead a massive corporation
like Ford, or Apple
5.
But you CAN break out of being a
mindless, spineless, culture of this modern age
E.
To move from sheep to Shepherd – from
follower to Leader, and World Changer – that is God’s challenge to each and
every one of us! (John 21:16)
1.
It is more than just wanting to be “in
power” – the apostles wanted that, and were mistaken
2.
Rich people want power – personal
power, to help them make more money
3.
Politicians want power – personal
power, to create a world in “their image”
4.
But Christians, Bible believers want
something much more!
5.
We want to be MORE than just a sheep
- become leaders, pace-setters, a light, salt! That’s what Jesus saved us
to be!
F.
Warning! It will probably cost you
everything to become more than just a follower!
1.
If you are even the slightest bit
squeamish, then leadership won’t be for you!
2.
If you are quick to complain, and
whinge and murmur, and find fault, then by all means, stay the way you are, and
don’t risk getting hurt!
G.
I don’t want anyone trying to be like
anyone else in this room – only that we all strive to be like Jesus of Nazareth!
II.
Message
A.
Seek the Closest Relationship Possible
(Mark 3:14)
1.
A sheep should want to be as close as
possible to the shepherd
2.
Jesus calls people to be WITH Him, not
just to follow Him (Mark 3:14) “And he ordained twelve, that they should be
with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.”
3.
There were LOADS of people who followed
Jesus… (Matthew 4:25; 8:1; 19:2)
a.
Some for free food
b.
Some for amazing entertainment – never
saw anything like it
c.
Some for the miracles
4.
But few just hungered to be with Him!
To be right next to Him!
a.
Often, only 3 of the twelve disciples
got very close – Peter, James and John
1)
You find only them up on the
Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17)
2)
You find only them at the healing of
the daughter of the ruler of the Synagogue in Mark 5:35-37
3)
And Jesus separates Peter James and
John from the others, and brings them deeper into the
b.
But in the end, it was JOHN who found
the closest place nearest to Christ’s heart (John 13:23)!
5.
There ought to be such a drive, such a
competitive spirit in this church for who would walk closest to, and furthest
with, Jesus!
a.
Most everyone seeks to get ahead –
thinking they know best or better
b.
Jesus asks us to watch Him, and do like
Him, but He most of all wants us right there with Him!
c.
It is only in this place that you will
hear God’s clear calling and direction
d.
If you spend a load of time with Him,
it will show – it will have an effect!
B.
Work Harder Than Anyone Else (1Cor
15:10)
1.
I’m serious!
2.
God hates laziness and apathy when
there is work that needs to be done for Him. The world is going to hell, and we
are supposed to be making a spiritual difference here in
3.
Labour more for eternal things, for
spiritual things than for the passing things of just this life (John 6:26,27)
4.
Spend and be spent for everyone around
you (2Cor 12:14,15)
5.
Work hard at being the best giver!
a.
Sheep take…
b.
Shepherds give, and give, and give some
more!
6.
Start at the bottom!
a.
No Christian in this room should have a
problem Starting at the bottom at anything!
b.
As helpers
c.
And then work harder than everyone
else! To become a leader!
d.
That’s where we shine!
e.
The world will stand in awe of a
hard-working Christian!
f.
It ought to start at home and at
church!
7.
Make sure you get some scars – some
GOOD scars from serving the Lord (2Cor 11:23-30)
a.
We carry plenty of scars from stupid
sinful activities
b.
But the apostle Paul was in labours
more abundant
1)
In stripes above measure
2)
In prisons more frequent
3)
In deaths oft.
4)
Of the Jews five times received I forty
stripes save one.
5)
Thrice was I beaten with rods
6)
Once was I stoned
7)
Thrice I suffered shipwreck
8)
A night and a day I have been in the
deep;
9)
In journeyings often, in perils of
waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the
heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the
sea, in perils among
10)In
weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings
often, in cold and nakedness.
11)Beside
those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all
the churches.
12)Who
is weak, and I am not weak?
13)Who
is offended, and I burn not?
14)If
I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
c.
Paul wore the scars of a life lived for
Christ!!!
8.
Sheep get scars from wandering away all
the time into trouble
9.
Shepherds get scars from protecting the
sheep, and leading the sheep, and rescuing sheep, and from obeying the Lord his
Shepherd!
C.
Trust God More and More (Proverbs 3:5,6)
1.
We have a convenient kind of faith in
a.
A faith that we are comfortable with
b.
It works for us
c.
But it is not real
d.
In reality, MOST people are resting on
the faith of others: Of their parents, of their pastor, of their church
e.
They have very little of their own
faith, confidence, trust in God
f.
Sheep trust the shepherd
g.
But shepherds trust God!
2.
Everyone has to learn to trust God – it
doesn’t come naturally!
a.
Moses learned that, when HE was humbled
and made into a lowly shepherd
1)
He made constant excuses as to why he
couldn’t do what God asked of him
2)
That is, until he learned that the
ability was not in himself, it was not in the rod, but all Moses’ sufficiency
was and always would be in the Lord God!
b.
Samson had to learn to trust God
instead of his jawbone of an ass!
c.
Gideon had to learn his victory was not
in the size of his army, or even in any of those 300 empty pitchers that he
ended up using… he learned to trust in the Lord!
d.
David’ victory was not in his sling…
e.
Elisha had no power in his staff…
3.
Great things are accomplished only with
great faith
a.
Faith that YOU personally have
b.
The centurion had more faith than all
the disciples! (Luke 7:6-10)
4.
Next time you face a storm, a wall, or
an enemy, decide to trust in the Lord, and be willing to stay trusting Him until
the storm calms, and the trouble passes, and the enemy runs away!
D.
Allow Yourself to Hurt A
1.
A.W. Tozer said these words, “Whom God
would use greatly, he will hurt deeply.”
2.
God will allow a lot of hurt into your
life – don’t fight it! I do, but I don’t want to!
3.
It is ONLY during those darkest of
times, that I fellowship with Christ the best, and I learn how to trust Him the
most!
4.
So, Fail a lot – Moses did! People will
find fault with you, and mock you and hurt you as you try and do the right
things and fail…
5.
And Hurt a lot – don’t let it numb you,
or cause you to get bitter or calloused!
6.
The important thing is that you NEVER
stop feeling! The moment you, you are through!
a.
Just as Christ as touched with the
feeling of OUR infirmities, so also should WE feel the troubles and infirmities
of others around us
b.
That’s when we move from being a
stupid, uncaring, selfish sheep, to a caring, compassionate Shepherd!
E.
Do A
1.
At least be ready to go it alone as a
Christian!
2.
We are a lot like sheep – we go where
everyone else is going. We do what everyone else is doing.
3.
We need to be more like the Shepherd
(Luke 9:51-53)
a.
Jesus started out alone, people flocked
to him, but in the end, everyone abandoned Him… and yet he kept going!
b.
He only wanted to do His Father’s will
1)
John 4:34
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and
to finish his work.
2)
John 6:38
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him
that sent me.
3)
John 9:4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night
cometh, when no man can work.
c.
Set our course, and go, no matter how
many come along, or how few
4.
This doesn’t mean be a loner, but that
your friends no longer control you, and when God directs you in a different
direction than everyone else, then you will go it alone:
a.
To the mission field
b.
To another job
c.
To new, more godly friendships – even
if there are not many
F.
Make the Hard Decisions (Joshua 24:15)
1.
It is always so easy to just let others
make up your mind for you
a.
Let others decide what you wear, what
you watch, who you hang with
b.
THAT’S no problem
2.
BUT! If you want to be more than just a
dumb sheep, then start making some hard decisions:
a.
To do the right thing
b.
That you will keep yourself pure (eyes,
heart, mind, and body)
c.
That you will be honest for the rest of
your life
d.
That you will do WHATEVER Christ asks
of you – not matter what!
e.
That you will make HIM THE
priority of your life, over family, work, worries, or fears!
f.
That you will never ever ever pick up a
drink, or a cigarette
g.
That you will walk away from some
friend that is ruining your walk with Christ
3.
Sheep don’t make many decisions – they
just follow
4.
Shepherds make the hard decisions!
G.
Shepherd Where You Are At – Care for
YOUR Flock (Acts 20:28; Luke 15:3-5)
1.
It is easy to see what ought to be done
in other people’s lives, and ignore your own home
2.
YOU, Be faithful over what and who God
has placed you over, and He will put you over more!
a.
A group of believers is a church - it
is Christ’s flock – His sheep
b.
Don’t compare your efforts or your
“flock” with anyone else!
3.
Just take the best care of YOUR flock
a.
Your home, and your children
b.
Your co-workers – they may not know it,
but you are their shepherd, trying to get them into the right sheep fold!
c.
Your little Sunday School class, or
teen group
d.
Those men and women in R.U.
e.
The people who are looking up to you
for leadership
4.
How? (1Peter 5:2)
a.
FEED them – teach them line by line,
truth by truth this Bible!
b.
WARN them – you have to be more than
people’s friends!
c.
LOVE them
d.
SHOW them – be the example
H.
Take Time Seriously (Eph 5:16)
1.
Don’t waste time anymore
2.
Always redeem the time – always trying
to get more hours out of a day
3.
Making NOW count
4.
Yes, take breaks, have some diversions
5.
But the majority of people do almost
nothing for Christ, when in reality, we should do very little for the world,
other than win it to Christ!
a.
READ!
1)
Read your Bible, cover to cover, over
and over
2)
Read BIOGRAPHIES of great men and women
of God
3)
Read books on astronomy, and science
and history
b.
Learn things
1)
Don’t just let the world dumb you down
2)
Learn cool stuff – like physics, and
mechanics, and electricity
3)
Learn how to build stuff
4)
Discover how to do things no one has
ever dreamed!
c.
Stretch yourself! Go to university!
d.
Get up earlier and do more in your day
than others
e.
THAT’S what LEADERS do! Sheep stay in
bed, and play games, and watch youtube
f.
Turn off the TV, Facebook
g.
Take courses
h.
Start discipleship
i.
Do a year of Bible Institute
j.
Have a hobby that develops you instead
of wastes all your time!
6.
TAKE YOUR TIME SERIOUSLY – it will
never come again!
I.
Be Weird on Purpose (1Peter 2:9)
1.
Sheep look all the same
2.
Shepherds look different – act
different – think different!
3.
So, Decide who you are going to be
a.
A fool to God, or A fool to the world?
b.
It means start living Out of step
c.
Not conformed to the world’s ideals
d.
But transformed
1)
Not drinking at all anymore
2)
Not knowing all the movies and music of
this day (my age was the 70’s and 80’s – after that, it is almost a blank,
praise God)!
J.
Have Some Victories that God gave YOU!
(1Sam 17:33-37)
1.
Like David had against the bear and the
lion
2.
Don’t you have any victories?
a.
Any souls that God allowed YOU to win
to faith in Jesus? Your children even?
b.
Any bad habits that God enabled you to
put away?
3.
Get you some spiritual victories!
a.
Give out a tract and invite to church
until someone does!
b.
Keep putting down your cigarettes until
you don’t pick them up ever again!
c.
Pray and fast and pray some more about
some need or burden until it is lifted or helped by God alone!
4.
Sheep WATCH
5.
Shepherds DO!
K.
Take Risks – have Vision (Acts 20:22-24)
1.
People who just do what everyone else
is doing, never take worthwhile risks, and never break away from the “herd” –
they are only sheep
2.
Shepherds take risks
a.
Not stupid risks like stepping off a
building
b.
But they Pick on the biggest, meanest
bully at school, and invite him to Teens, and to church on Sunday! Tell him you
are praying for him to get born again! Tell him or her that to their face!
c.
They ask pastor if you can preach a 5
minute message sometime for pop-corn preaching
d.
They believe God when everyone else has
given up on prayer, and on trusting God to work everything out for good!
L.
Never Stop Being Like the Master (Isaiah
40:11; 1Peter 2:21)
1.
That is what leadership, REAL
leadership is all about!
2.
There is no better example!
3.
He broke the old mould!
a.
Of religion
b.
Of politics
c.
Of sin’s glory and grip on culture
4.
And He made a new mould! He set the
pace! He
5.
Be the example for those around
of, NOT of a sheep only, but of a Leader, a Shepherd! A Pattern for others to
follow!
a.
Don’t let the world mould you
anymore
b.
Don’t let the pressures, stress,
culture, fashions shape your life anymore
c.
YOU be the fashion – the light,
the salt of the world
d.
BE an example of what a follower
of Jesus Christ is, and acts like!
III.
Conclusion
A.
Obviously there are some big
differences between sheep and a shepherd
1.
Sheep eat – Shepherds feed!
2.
Sheep flock together – Shepherds stand
alone!
3.
Sheep follow where the flock is heading
– Shepherds call the sheep to follow him!
4.
Sheep have few cares or worries –
Shepherds carry heavy burdens!
5.
Sheep love eating and sleeping –
Shepherds love the sheep!
B.
It is SOOOOO easy to just “go with the
flow…”
1.
To be only a follower of the crowd – of
the flow of the world around you
2.
A dead fish goes nowhere other than the
water takes them!
3.
You may never be a pastor, or a mayor,
or a Taoiseach
4.
You may not lead a massive corporation
like Ford, or Apple
5.
But you CAN break out of being a
mindless, spineless, culture of this modern age
C.
God’s challenge to each and every one
of us is to move from sheep to Shepherd – from follower to Leader, and World
Changer!
D.
How?
1.
Seek the Closest Relationship Possible
2.
Work Harder Than Anyone Else
3.
Trust God More and More
4.
Allow Yourself to Hurt A
5.
Do A
6.
Make the Hard Decisions
7.
Shepherd Where You Are At – Care for
YOUR Flock
8.
Take Time Seriously
9.
Be Weird on Purpose
10.Have
Some Victories that God gave YOU!
11.Take
Risks – have Vision
12.Never
Stop Being Like the Master
E.
Warning! It will probably cost you
everything to become more than just a follower! But it is worth it! Far better
being a leader, a pace-setter, a light, salt, than just a sheep!