THE TAKEOVER The instructions Jesus gave to the CHOSEN SUCCESSOR to oversee the ongoing work of His GLOBAL VISION---FEED MY SHEEP---was also important. In the days Jesus lived on earth, MANY OTHER RABBIS, OR MASTER TEACHERS WHO WERE FOUNDERS OF ([SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT AND INSTITUTES OF LEARNING]) WERE ALSO ACTIVE. Thier students were simply called DISCIPLES. Therefore, ({[IT IS ESSENTIAL TO KNOW THAT JESUS WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE AMAZING SCHOOL THAT TAUGHT A VISION OF GLOBAL EXPANSION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF GOD ({[ON EARTH.]})In other words, HIS VISION WAS THE ({COLONIZATION OF EARTH BY THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.}) This was a massive VISION and REQUIRED THE TRAINING OF HUMANKIND TO UNDERSTAND AND IMPLEMENT THIS VISION IN SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS. Jesus in John 21:15-17 uses the METAPHOR of (SHEEP) to describe HIS ENTIRE SCHOOL OF STUDENTS---DISCIPLES. Drawing on an image often invoked in the Scriptures, Jesus saw Himself as the SHEPHERD, or TEACHER GUIDE OF HIS SCHOOL. He had built this school to become WELL-RESPECTED and INFLUENTIAL in the community and nation. Thousands followed HIS school from city to city, and many joined HIS institute. Now He is about to leave and decides to turn over HIS entire organization---THE HUMAN RESOURCES, REPUTATION, CREDIT, and GOODWILL to the one He had chosen, Peter. That must have been a defining moment for Jesus, Peter, and all the other students. The TRANSFER that day was the GREATEST LESSON IN MENTORING AND SUCCESSION IN HISTORY. ({[IT WAS GOD TRANSFERRING A HEAVENLY VISION TO AN EARTHLY MAN.]}) Peter passed the test and exhibited the qualifications for SUCCESSION: ({[LOVE.]}) PETER LOVED THE CHURCH BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT JESUS LOVED, AND JESUS KNEW THIS WAS THE PERSON TO PROTECT IT. Matthew 16:18 AND I TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE PETER, AND ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF Hades WILL NOT OVERCOME IT. When it comes time for you to chose a SUCCESSOR, do you KNOW if any one of your associates could PASS the TEST? Do you KNOW if any of then LOVES YOU? Are they JIVING, PLAYING GAMES TO GET A POSITION, AND JOCKEYING FOR POWER. As a LEADER, you KNOW the SCHEMES. You RECOGNIZE commitiment. You KNOW WHO IS SERIOUS about working with you. You KNOW whether your staff members are WORKING FOR MONEY OR FOR LOVE. Which of your staff members would you leave in charge? WHO LOVES YOU? Do you KNOW what MOTIVATES the people around you? I know which people around me are MOTIVATED BY LOVE. They check on things in my life that ONLY SOMEONE WHO LOVES ME WILL CHECK. When I am coming home from a long trip, they will cook something for me and bring it to the house. They say, This is for pastor. I know he is tired, and no one has had time to cook. ({[THAT IS LOVE.]}) To think that far ahead is LOVE. Look for people like that. Choose such people for your LEADERSHIP TEAM. ([DO NOT GET EXPERTS. GET LOVERS.]) YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO WILL LOVE AND PROTECT WHAT YOU LOVE. ({WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR SUCCESSION, YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO ASK, DO YOU LOVE ME? YOU WILL HAVE SEEN LOVE IN ACTION.}) POINTS TO REMEMBER: PETER PROVED HIS LOVE FOR JESUS MANY TIMES, EVEN TO THE POINT OF RISKING HIS OWN LIFE. PETER LOVED WHAT JESUS LOVED. LOVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CREDENTIAL FOR A SUCCESSOR.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 20:27:51 +0000
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