SuccessfulLeadershipObedienceCrawfordLoritts WEBVTT - This file was automatically generated by VIMEO 0 00:00:01.125 --> 00:00:02.115 Thank you very much. 1 00:00:02.335 --> 00:00:04.515 My greatest claim to fame is my grandchildren. 2 00:00:04.915 --> 00:00:08.035 I tell our kids that their only reason for existence is 3 00:00:08.035 --> 00:00:09.955 for transportation, for our grandkids. 4 00:00:10.535 --> 00:00:13.395 And, uh, when they come, the adults, the parents, 5 00:00:13.395 --> 00:00:15.395 when they come, they've got a three day limit. 6 00:00:16.175 --> 00:00:18.955 Uh, if God could raise Jesus in three days, 7 00:00:18.955 --> 00:00:20.595 they can get outta my house in three days. 8 00:00:20.695 --> 00:00:23.595 So, no, it's starting to say, I'm just kidding. 9 00:00:23.615 --> 00:00:24.995 But there's an element of truth to that. 10 00:00:25.055 --> 00:00:28.155 But, uh, it is a, it is a joy 11 00:00:28.215 --> 00:00:29.675 and a treat to be here with you. 12 00:00:29.915 --> 00:00:32.315 I, I've been blessed immensely, not only 13 00:00:32.415 --> 00:00:34.675 by the presentations up front here, 14 00:00:34.775 --> 00:00:38.275 but just, uh, just to see the buzz and the interaction. 15 00:00:38.375 --> 00:00:41.755 And I'm just so grateful to God for you men 16 00:00:41.755 --> 00:00:44.275 and women who are modeling what it means to 17 00:00:45.235 --> 00:00:46.795 represent Jesus in the marketplace. 18 00:00:46.895 --> 00:00:48.315 And that's what it's really all about. 19 00:00:49.025 --> 00:00:51.195 Does my heart, does my heart good? 20 00:00:51.535 --> 00:00:54.355 But I would have to say, I mean, I, I, uh, love, 21 00:00:54.825 --> 00:00:56.315 love Richard Blackaby, 22 00:00:56.315 --> 00:00:58.395 and then of course, Jordan this morning, 23 00:00:58.495 --> 00:01:00.715 and those two guys are talking about leadership, 24 00:01:00.715 --> 00:01:02.155 and I'm gonna talk about leadership. 25 00:01:02.215 --> 00:01:05.435 But after I heard them, I thought to myself, I was kind 26 00:01:05.435 --> 00:01:07.475 of reminded of the, the, the dude that tried 27 00:01:07.475 --> 00:01:10.275 to enter his mule in the Kentucky Derby, you know, 28 00:01:10.575 --> 00:01:12.075 and, uh, they said, man, 29 00:01:12.075 --> 00:01:14.035 you can't enter this mule in the Kentucky Derby. 30 00:01:14.035 --> 00:01:15.035 It's not, I mean, he is in. 31 00:01:15.135 --> 00:01:16.915 And the old farmer said, well, I know, 32 00:01:16.915 --> 00:01:19.115 but I thought the exposure might do him some good. 33 00:01:20.095 --> 00:01:24.195 So nothing ever happens apart from 34 00:01:24.195 --> 00:01:26.405 leadership, nothing. 35 00:01:27.535 --> 00:01:29.155 And I'm preaching to the choir. Here. 36 00:01:29.155 --> 00:01:31.715 You can have the greatest plans and the greatest intentions. 37 00:01:31.775 --> 00:01:32.995 You can whiteboard things, 38 00:01:32.995 --> 00:01:35.515 you can parade in the consultants, you can talk 39 00:01:35.565 --> 00:01:36.835 until the cows come home. 40 00:01:37.535 --> 00:01:39.835 But somebody somewhere has to pull a trigger. 41 00:01:41.165 --> 00:01:45.545 Leadership is everything. Leadership is action. 42 00:01:45.545 --> 00:01:49.335 Leadership is movement. It's everything. 43 00:01:49.995 --> 00:01:52.975 And yet, that's the way God intended for it to be. 44 00:01:54.485 --> 00:01:55.605 Although I have to tell you, 45 00:01:55.825 --> 00:01:57.925 I'm a little bit confused, not confused. 46 00:01:58.025 --> 00:02:00.955 I'm a little bit, um, what am I trying to say? 47 00:02:01.055 --> 00:02:02.595 Not exactly frustrated, 48 00:02:03.015 --> 00:02:06.115 but I think leadership has gotten cloudy and confused. 49 00:02:06.855 --> 00:02:09.875 We confuse leader development with leadership development. 50 00:02:10.215 --> 00:02:11.555 And there are two different things. 51 00:02:11.725 --> 00:02:15.035 Leadership development obviously is the science of, uh, 52 00:02:15.675 --> 00:02:17.635 planning, leading, organizing, and controlling 53 00:02:17.635 --> 00:02:19.155 and processing that kind of thing. 54 00:02:19.255 --> 00:02:22.075 And leader development has to do with the person 55 00:02:22.105 --> 00:02:23.195 that God uses. 56 00:02:23.895 --> 00:02:25.075 It is the character. 57 00:02:25.965 --> 00:02:28.865 And, uh, and your character always has 58 00:02:28.865 --> 00:02:31.785 to be greater than any platform you ever stand on. 59 00:02:32.565 --> 00:02:35.305 Uh, our ambition should be as follows of Christ. 60 00:02:35.605 --> 00:02:38.545 If we have been called to lead that my, 61 00:02:38.845 --> 00:02:41.385 my character is greater than my title. 62 00:02:42.125 --> 00:02:44.545 My character is greater than my position 63 00:02:45.485 --> 00:02:49.335 because biblical leadership is anchored into theology of 64 00:02:50.045 --> 00:02:52.915 incarnation, of incarnation. 65 00:02:54.445 --> 00:02:56.225 In other words, as you study the scripture, 66 00:02:57.025 --> 00:03:00.205 a leader is not just a steward of processes. 67 00:03:01.615 --> 00:03:02.895 A leader is the portrait 68 00:03:02.895 --> 00:03:06.215 of the desired destination at which others need to arrive. 69 00:03:07.505 --> 00:03:09.205 That's the reason why character is 70 00:03:09.225 --> 00:03:11.965 so terribly important when it comes to leadership. 71 00:03:12.515 --> 00:03:13.805 It's not a wink and a nod. 72 00:03:13.805 --> 00:03:15.925 And it's not just a utilitarian tool. 73 00:03:15.995 --> 00:03:18.685 It's not just something that's quid pro quo. 74 00:03:18.845 --> 00:03:20.765 I I'll be a personal good character 75 00:03:20.765 --> 00:03:22.365 because that'll affect the bottom line. 76 00:03:22.825 --> 00:03:25.245 No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no characters. 77 00:03:25.935 --> 00:03:26.605 Everything, 78 00:03:28.425 --> 00:03:30.995 everything, everything. 79 00:03:32.235 --> 00:03:34.375 And we were meant as leaders, our lives 80 00:03:34.435 --> 00:03:36.095 and our, our enterprises 81 00:03:36.115 --> 00:03:40.095 and the assignments that we have, they were meant 82 00:03:40.095 --> 00:03:43.215 to tell the truth about God during our moment in history. 83 00:03:44.875 --> 00:03:46.045 It's not ancillary. 84 00:03:47.955 --> 00:03:51.205 It's not a little wallpaper to my existence. 85 00:03:52.125 --> 00:03:55.555 Everything I do is meant to tell the truth about God. 86 00:03:57.365 --> 00:03:59.765 I was asked to teach as a visiting professor, 87 00:03:59.765 --> 00:04:01.685 the seminary back in the nineties. 88 00:04:01.995 --> 00:04:03.005 They asked me to teach 89 00:04:03.025 --> 00:04:05.255 and only only a dean 90 00:04:05.255 --> 00:04:08.975 of a seminary sitting in a 72 degree climate control office 91 00:04:09.085 --> 00:04:12.235 with title a course like this. 92 00:04:12.295 --> 00:04:14.395 But they asked me to teach Crawford, will you come up 93 00:04:14.395 --> 00:04:16.475 and teach the essence of biblical leadership? 94 00:04:17.035 --> 00:04:19.355 I said, well, that's a good marketing title. 95 00:04:20.415 --> 00:04:24.355 But, uh, as I prepared for the chorus, I, I, 96 00:04:24.355 --> 00:04:25.835 and I love reading about leadership. 97 00:04:25.955 --> 00:04:27.995 I read everything I can get my hands on. 98 00:04:28.425 --> 00:04:31.555 That was in the broad, under the broad umbrella of 99 00:04:32.155 --> 00:04:33.435 distinctively Christian leadership. 100 00:04:34.255 --> 00:04:36.715 And, uh, and I, I don't mean to be condescending 101 00:04:36.715 --> 00:04:38.515 or dismissive or that kind of thing, 102 00:04:38.635 --> 00:04:40.275 but as I was reading through these books, 103 00:04:40.695 --> 00:04:42.355 and they were all very helpful to me, 104 00:04:43.015 --> 00:04:46.435 but I, I began to, uh, be a little uncomfortable 105 00:04:46.435 --> 00:04:49.235 because, uh, the lions share them, 106 00:04:49.785 --> 00:04:52.755 what they were saying was distinctively Christian 107 00:04:52.755 --> 00:04:54.875 leadership, or what the Bible taught about leadership. 108 00:04:55.635 --> 00:04:57.275 I start scratching my head 109 00:04:57.315 --> 00:04:59.955 and I said, I don't know that the Bible necessarily teaches 110 00:05:00.065 --> 00:05:03.555 that there were some Bible principles that they got. 111 00:05:03.555 --> 00:05:05.435 And they would slap it on Bible verses 112 00:05:05.435 --> 00:05:07.755 and they slap it around a principle and they pass it off. 113 00:05:08.215 --> 00:05:09.755 So I shoved those books aside, 114 00:05:09.755 --> 00:05:14.015 and I asked myself this question, what is it 115 00:05:14.015 --> 00:05:15.415 that every great man 116 00:05:15.415 --> 00:05:19.135 or woman of God, what is it that every great man 117 00:05:19.135 --> 00:05:22.895 or woman of God, what is it that they had in common? 118 00:05:23.825 --> 00:05:27.885 In other words, when God trusted them with this assignments, 119 00:05:28.965 --> 00:05:30.655 what did they have in common? 120 00:05:31.155 --> 00:05:32.415 And I went back to the scriptures, 121 00:05:32.415 --> 00:05:35.295 and I tried to be as objective as I possibly can be in 122 00:05:35.915 --> 00:05:37.855 as unbiased, which is probably, 123 00:05:37.935 --> 00:05:39.775 I don't know if anybody can be totally unbiased, 124 00:05:40.195 --> 00:05:42.695 but as I went through the scriptures, I discovered 125 00:05:42.695 --> 00:05:44.815 that God has an amazing sense of humor. 126 00:05:46.795 --> 00:05:49.775 Now, there is no certain personality profile 127 00:05:50.955 --> 00:05:52.055 for leadership in the Bible. 128 00:05:53.035 --> 00:05:55.215 Now, I, I know we take the disc test 129 00:05:55.275 --> 00:05:57.485 and we say, you know, the results pattern is high. 130 00:05:57.565 --> 00:05:59.085 DII, or whatever it might be. 131 00:05:59.385 --> 00:06:01.205 We do our Myers Briggs, we do the, 132 00:06:01.205 --> 00:06:03.205 all the other Enneagram and all these other things. 133 00:06:03.225 --> 00:06:04.845 And we'll grab a Bible verse 134 00:06:04.845 --> 00:06:07.845 and we'll say, well, you know, Paul was really a, a high D. 135 00:06:08.195 --> 00:06:10.205 Well, you, I think you need to be careful with 136 00:06:10.205 --> 00:06:13.595 that a little bit, because as you read, linear, a degree 137 00:06:13.595 --> 00:06:16.275 of intellectual honesty, there's not a pattern. 138 00:06:17.545 --> 00:06:20.595 There's not, again, you got shy people. 139 00:06:21.255 --> 00:06:26.115 You got, you got over the top extroverts, people in between 140 00:06:26.945 --> 00:06:28.635 this not a certain pedigree. 141 00:06:30.255 --> 00:06:32.925 There, there, there's not a certain educational background. 142 00:06:35.425 --> 00:06:37.325 It is like they're all over the map. 143 00:06:39.145 --> 00:06:43.605 And yet God chooses them, these people 144 00:06:44.025 --> 00:06:46.885 who are all over the map to trust with his assignments. 145 00:06:48.635 --> 00:06:52.175 So the question is, what do they have in common? 146 00:06:54.015 --> 00:06:58.045 And I discovered that they had these 147 00:06:58.795 --> 00:07:02.085 four characteristics in common, 148 00:07:03.055 --> 00:07:04.395 and I'm almost embarrassed 149 00:07:04.395 --> 00:07:08.675 because they, they are painfully obvious. 150 00:07:10.475 --> 00:07:12.295 And I have to say, every Christian 151 00:07:12.875 --> 00:07:15.055 should have these four characteristics. 152 00:07:15.595 --> 00:07:19.455 But they are exponentially true of the people 153 00:07:19.525 --> 00:07:22.295 that God trusted with his assignments. 154 00:07:23.585 --> 00:07:25.995 They were branded and marked by these four things, 155 00:07:27.045 --> 00:07:30.515 brokenness, uncommon communion, 156 00:07:31.735 --> 00:07:36.675 servanthood as an identity and radical immediate obedience. 157 00:07:37.595 --> 00:07:40.955 Those four things dominated. 158 00:07:41.575 --> 00:07:42.915 Now, parentheses here, 159 00:07:43.095 --> 00:07:44.315 you've heard me use the word 160 00:07:44.315 --> 00:07:45.715 assignments, and that's on purpose. 161 00:07:47.425 --> 00:07:49.885 Uh, it is my view as the study in the Bible 162 00:07:50.025 --> 00:07:52.445 and, uh, beginning to realize that, look, 163 00:07:52.535 --> 00:07:56.245 leadership in the Bible means nothing apart from assignment. 164 00:07:59.695 --> 00:08:02.605 Leadership is defined by assignment. 165 00:08:03.705 --> 00:08:05.845 You're a leader for something. 166 00:08:06.585 --> 00:08:08.325 The only reason, the only reason, 167 00:08:08.505 --> 00:08:11.005 the only reason why you're a leader is 168 00:08:11.005 --> 00:08:15.485 because God has given you something to be done, to be 169 00:08:16.005 --> 00:08:18.915 executed during, during your moment in history. 170 00:08:20.895 --> 00:08:22.275 And he wants you, 171 00:08:22.655 --> 00:08:27.555 and he wants me to be a model, a portrait 172 00:08:28.475 --> 00:08:31.055 of that desired destination. 173 00:08:32.715 --> 00:08:34.815 And the, and the, and the deal is this, I I, 174 00:08:34.935 --> 00:08:36.655 I tell younger leaders this all the time. 175 00:08:36.955 --> 00:08:41.215 Hey, look man, if you're just enamored by the platform 176 00:08:41.215 --> 00:08:44.575 and you're enamored by, you know, titles 177 00:08:44.595 --> 00:08:47.415 and you're, you wanna boast about what board you're on 178 00:08:47.475 --> 00:08:50.375 and this kind of thing, don't be a leader. 179 00:08:52.315 --> 00:08:53.495 That's not leadership. 180 00:08:56.340 --> 00:09:00.375 Leadership in the Bible means that I'm willing 181 00:09:00.375 --> 00:09:04.035 to pay the price to be the portrait 182 00:09:05.645 --> 00:09:07.625 of what God is asking me to do. 183 00:09:07.725 --> 00:09:11.065 And I'm asking other people to join me in doing. 184 00:09:13.515 --> 00:09:16.025 There is no such thing as biblical leadership 185 00:09:17.195 --> 00:09:22.015 unless the leader himself as radically dependent 186 00:09:22.315 --> 00:09:25.705 and deeply committed character 187 00:09:27.025 --> 00:09:28.245 is everything. 188 00:09:28.745 --> 00:09:32.745 And it's not a game. So let me just put 189 00:09:32.745 --> 00:09:33.945 some meat on that skeleton. 190 00:09:34.885 --> 00:09:38.355 Every person that God's trusted with his assignments, 191 00:09:38.685 --> 00:09:43.095 every last one of them, you're categorized or, or, 192 00:09:43.095 --> 00:09:46.555 or characterized by brokenness. 193 00:09:47.975 --> 00:09:52.595 I wish that wasn't so, I wish that I got mileage on me now, 194 00:09:52.595 --> 00:09:54.515 and there's some things in my life right now 195 00:09:54.985 --> 00:09:57.675 that I don't like, but I know they're painfully true. 196 00:09:57.695 --> 00:10:00.905 And this is one of them. Over the long haul, 197 00:10:01.405 --> 00:10:04.145 God never uses anything that comes to him together. 198 00:10:05.605 --> 00:10:09.305 Sorry, I didn't say your education was not important. 199 00:10:09.465 --> 00:10:10.945 I didn't say your experience was not important. 200 00:10:11.325 --> 00:10:15.425 But here's the point. God does not do double billing. 201 00:10:18.165 --> 00:10:19.225 He doesn't do double billing. 202 00:10:20.625 --> 00:10:24.765 We exist for the interest of the king and the kingdom. 203 00:10:26.335 --> 00:10:27.515 You can't bifurcate that. 204 00:10:27.515 --> 00:10:30.235 You gotta stop fighting, that you gotta stop resisting that. 205 00:10:30.855 --> 00:10:33.035 We don't. And please forgive this kind of 206 00:10:34.515 --> 00:10:35.555 hood expression here. 207 00:10:36.215 --> 00:10:39.595 We don't, we don't pimp God to make us look good. 208 00:10:41.785 --> 00:10:46.165 He doesn't exist to pad our bios or our resumes. 209 00:10:48.505 --> 00:10:50.115 What you're doing, your assignment 210 00:10:50.205 --> 00:10:53.915 where he's placed you in the marketplace, God has placed, 211 00:10:54.335 --> 00:10:55.915 God has placed you there. 212 00:10:57.485 --> 00:10:59.265 God has called you to be there. 213 00:11:00.955 --> 00:11:03.855 God has called you to steward that assignment. 214 00:11:06.985 --> 00:11:09.965 And there's never a moment in your life 215 00:11:10.025 --> 00:11:13.245 and in my life where it's okay not 216 00:11:13.305 --> 00:11:15.905 to depend upon God ever. 217 00:11:18.505 --> 00:11:19.645 And so what does he do? 218 00:11:22.865 --> 00:11:26.645 He breaks us. Now, I want to differentiate 219 00:11:26.675 --> 00:11:28.365 between two different, uh, these things. 220 00:11:29.145 --> 00:11:33.625 You can be wounded without having been broken, 221 00:11:34.615 --> 00:11:37.275 but you can't be broken without having been wounded. 222 00:11:40.095 --> 00:11:42.505 Woundedness is necessary for brokenness. 223 00:11:43.275 --> 00:11:46.015 And lemme just say, when you, you looking at, well, 224 00:11:46.015 --> 00:11:47.015 what's the difference between the two? 225 00:11:47.035 --> 00:11:49.455 Let me, uh, the difference between the two is this. 226 00:11:50.405 --> 00:11:53.065 You never want to give a wounded person a position of, 227 00:11:53.875 --> 00:11:56.925 because they will use that position as a, as a platform 228 00:11:56.925 --> 00:11:58.045 for their own personal therapy. 229 00:11:58.305 --> 00:11:59.645 And they're hurt a whole lot of people 230 00:11:59.675 --> 00:12:01.325 because they haven't gotten over it. 231 00:12:03.875 --> 00:12:05.695 Broken people have been wounded. 232 00:12:06.935 --> 00:12:11.265 Wounded people have a tendency to talk about their wounds 233 00:12:11.925 --> 00:12:13.745 and the pain that they've been through. 234 00:12:15.215 --> 00:12:17.795 And honestly, it's the celebration of the pain. 235 00:12:18.975 --> 00:12:22.995 And, you know, you, they use euphemisms like, uh, well, 236 00:12:23.075 --> 00:12:24.075 I wanna be authentic. 237 00:12:24.205 --> 00:12:27.035 Let's keeping it real. But there's no resolution there. 238 00:12:27.665 --> 00:12:29.685 Broken people also talk about the pain. 239 00:12:30.235 --> 00:12:33.205 They're very transparent and authentic. 240 00:12:34.065 --> 00:12:36.045 But the difference is they talk about the pain 241 00:12:36.045 --> 00:12:37.125 in a redemptive way. 242 00:12:37.975 --> 00:12:40.625 They talk about how Jesus has met them in the pain. 243 00:12:41.015 --> 00:12:43.385 They talk about how they've learned from the pain 244 00:12:44.085 --> 00:12:45.545 and how they become better. 245 00:12:47.575 --> 00:12:52.125 But brokenness is a permanent sense of God. 246 00:12:52.555 --> 00:12:55.535 Neediness, brokenness is not necessarily 247 00:12:55.655 --> 00:12:56.695 a lack of confidence. 248 00:12:56.755 --> 00:12:59.775 In fact, humility is not a lack of confidence. I continue. 249 00:12:59.795 --> 00:13:01.855 You cannot be humble unless you're confident. 250 00:13:03.285 --> 00:13:04.885 Humility is God. Confidence. 251 00:13:06.215 --> 00:13:08.845 Brokenness is this permanent sense of God, neediness. 252 00:13:09.625 --> 00:13:12.685 And God will afflict us with a holy handicap 253 00:13:12.705 --> 00:13:14.485 to keep us dependent upon him. 254 00:13:15.715 --> 00:13:17.655 And we can pick on Moses as an example. 255 00:13:18.695 --> 00:13:22.525 Moses spent 40 years, as we know, famously he saw, you know, 256 00:13:23.035 --> 00:13:24.045 walk in the hallway. 257 00:13:24.185 --> 00:13:27.445 He is a feral and you know, all this stuff. And he grew up. 258 00:13:27.445 --> 00:13:29.165 He always knew that he was a Jew, right? 259 00:13:29.265 --> 00:13:30.365 He knew he was a Jew. 260 00:13:30.825 --> 00:13:33.485 And, uh, he grew up with all the bling bling 261 00:13:33.505 --> 00:13:35.165 and exposure and this kind of thing. 262 00:13:35.585 --> 00:13:37.925 But the dissonance began to kill him. 263 00:13:38.965 --> 00:13:40.945 He knew his brethren were slaves. 264 00:13:42.395 --> 00:13:44.165 They were making bricks without straw. 265 00:13:45.585 --> 00:13:47.395 Finally, he just couldn't take it any longer. 266 00:13:47.455 --> 00:13:50.195 He sees one of these overseers 267 00:13:51.745 --> 00:13:53.275 beating one of his brethren. 268 00:13:53.275 --> 00:13:55.315 And so Moses snaps and he kills him. 269 00:13:56.365 --> 00:13:58.985 He gets exiled 40 years. 270 00:13:59.335 --> 00:14:00.745 Look on the backside of the desert, 271 00:14:00.745 --> 00:14:03.985 looking at the south side of sheep, he comes to this bush 272 00:14:03.985 --> 00:14:05.825 that's burning, but it's not consumed. 273 00:14:07.485 --> 00:14:09.185 And he goes to the bush, and God is 274 00:14:09.305 --> 00:14:10.345 speaking to him through the bush. 275 00:14:11.205 --> 00:14:15.225 It says, Moses, now's the time. Moses said so many words. 276 00:14:15.285 --> 00:14:19.975 Is the time for what you're ready, ready for what? 277 00:14:21.925 --> 00:14:24.115 Moses was a broken person. 278 00:14:25.475 --> 00:14:27.055 All self-reliance in terms of 279 00:14:27.055 --> 00:14:29.215 that vision had been flushed down the toilet. 280 00:14:29.355 --> 00:14:31.885 Man, how do you know that? 281 00:14:31.885 --> 00:14:33.845 He starts giving God these excuses? 282 00:14:33.945 --> 00:14:36.645 And I, and I, I do have to say this, I got a demented sense 283 00:14:36.645 --> 00:14:38.845 of humor, but I, I would think, 284 00:14:40.485 --> 00:14:42.005 I ain't no Moses, that's for sure. 285 00:14:42.385 --> 00:14:46.085 But I would think that if God was speaking to me from a bush 286 00:14:46.155 --> 00:14:48.885 that ain't burning, that I would have very little to say. 287 00:14:49.825 --> 00:14:54.725 I'm just saying. So, I mean, I, every time I read, 288 00:14:54.845 --> 00:14:56.125 I say, Moses, you're idiot. 289 00:14:56.635 --> 00:14:59.725 Stop. He's telling God what he can't do. 290 00:15:01.105 --> 00:15:02.445 So he come to chapter four, 291 00:15:05.085 --> 00:15:07.665 and you can tell the emotional context here is that God, 292 00:15:08.685 --> 00:15:10.065 you, you, you sense it. 293 00:15:10.225 --> 00:15:12.745 God's getting just a little tick with Moses. 294 00:15:13.485 --> 00:15:14.905 He says, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 295 00:15:14.905 --> 00:15:17.745 Moses, Moses, what you, you're telling me what you can do? 296 00:15:18.045 --> 00:15:20.625 What's that? You got in your hand? What is it? 297 00:15:21.655 --> 00:15:23.625 Well, as a shepherd's crook, I've been, you know, 298 00:15:23.625 --> 00:15:25.745 beaten away predators and rescue and sheep. 299 00:15:25.745 --> 00:15:30.025 And she says, throwing the ground becomes a serpent. 300 00:15:31.045 --> 00:15:34.205 Pick it up, becomes a staff. 301 00:15:35.545 --> 00:15:39.085 You see your hand, 80-year-old hand, varicose veins, 302 00:15:39.345 --> 00:15:43.345 put in your bom, take it out, leper. 303 00:15:44.415 --> 00:15:47.675 Put it back in. Oh, the message 304 00:15:48.695 --> 00:15:52.145 to Moses was this, listen to me, buddy. 305 00:15:53.145 --> 00:15:54.865 I don't use what you bring to the table. 306 00:15:56.255 --> 00:15:58.015 I use what you surrender to me. 307 00:16:00.275 --> 00:16:03.105 Gifts, talents, and abilities are overrated. 308 00:16:08.255 --> 00:16:09.815 I use what you surrender to me. 309 00:16:12.095 --> 00:16:14.425 Stop telling me what I can't do any through your life 310 00:16:16.025 --> 00:16:18.715 because of that, I'm gonna keep you on a short leash. 311 00:16:22.195 --> 00:16:23.735 I'm gonna keep you on a short leash. 312 00:16:26.505 --> 00:16:28.225 I want you to be aware of your failures. 313 00:16:30.685 --> 00:16:32.565 I want you to be aware of your inadequacies. 314 00:16:37.335 --> 00:16:40.755 You need to have a permanent sense of God, neediness 315 00:16:45.335 --> 00:16:47.125 pride, where as many disguises, 316 00:16:47.155 --> 00:16:49.005 including false spirituality, 317 00:16:53.965 --> 00:16:55.395 pride will kill you. 318 00:16:58.115 --> 00:17:00.605 Arrogance ultimately is nauseating. 319 00:17:04.845 --> 00:17:06.295 It's every great man or woman of God 320 00:17:06.295 --> 00:17:08.135 that God has used in significant ways. 321 00:17:10.135 --> 00:17:11.465 He's taken him to the woodshed. 322 00:17:11.805 --> 00:17:14.785 And I would say this brokenness is not just a point. 323 00:17:14.815 --> 00:17:17.425 It's an ongoing process. There's seasons of brokenness. 324 00:17:17.935 --> 00:17:20.665 There's a pattern in my life, and I don't like it, 325 00:17:21.915 --> 00:17:23.655 but God knows that I'm a knucklehead. 326 00:17:24.335 --> 00:17:25.825 There's a pattern in my life. 327 00:17:25.915 --> 00:17:29.745 Often before God will trust me with more leadership 328 00:17:29.885 --> 00:17:31.945 or open more doors for me. 329 00:17:34.735 --> 00:17:37.165 He'll allow me to go through some hard, tough times. 330 00:17:39.625 --> 00:17:42.605 So he whispers in my ear, okay, Crawford, remember 331 00:17:45.185 --> 00:17:46.445 you, you, you're not entitled. 332 00:17:46.495 --> 00:17:48.565 Right? Remember that, okay? 333 00:17:48.925 --> 00:17:49.885 Remember, remember what you've been through. 334 00:17:50.365 --> 00:17:51.045 Remember that, okay? 335 00:17:53.565 --> 00:17:55.315 Every great man or woman of God that God's trust 336 00:17:55.315 --> 00:17:57.875 with his assignments have been characterized by brokenness. 337 00:17:58.575 --> 00:17:59.735 Secondly, every great man 338 00:17:59.735 --> 00:18:02.015 or woman of God that God has trusted over the long haul 339 00:18:02.015 --> 00:18:04.655 with his assignments has been characterized. 340 00:18:04.675 --> 00:18:06.495 Now, I have to explain this a little bit as hanging there 341 00:18:06.495 --> 00:18:08.135 with me has been marked and branded 342 00:18:08.135 --> 00:18:12.255 and characterized by what I call uncommon communion. 343 00:18:13.525 --> 00:18:16.095 Uncommon communion. What do you mean by that? 344 00:18:17.615 --> 00:18:19.025 What I mean by that is this, 345 00:18:19.305 --> 00:18:21.065 I don't mean just your personal prayer life. 346 00:18:21.145 --> 00:18:23.065 I don't mean just your devotional life. 347 00:18:24.485 --> 00:18:26.625 But what I mean by that is that, um, 348 00:18:32.315 --> 00:18:35.045 just about every assignment that God gives 349 00:18:35.065 --> 00:18:36.845 to us presupposes gap, 350 00:18:39.835 --> 00:18:40.965 that there's a gap. 351 00:18:42.455 --> 00:18:46.275 There's a gap between what he's called me 352 00:18:46.275 --> 00:18:48.685 to do and what I have. 353 00:18:51.095 --> 00:18:52.675 And so every great man 354 00:18:52.675 --> 00:18:56.555 or woman of God has had to press into the heart of God 355 00:18:57.295 --> 00:19:01.395 to get the resources to translate the vision to reality, 356 00:19:01.775 --> 00:19:02.875 to bridge the gap. 357 00:19:04.935 --> 00:19:07.595 You see, there are three things that are happening to, uh, 358 00:19:07.595 --> 00:19:09.875 when, when we fulfill God's assignments for our lives. 359 00:19:09.875 --> 00:19:11.675 Listen to me, three things that are happening. 360 00:19:12.785 --> 00:19:15.075 It's not just the accomplishment of the assignment. 361 00:19:17.365 --> 00:19:18.745 We are accomplishing the assignment. 362 00:19:20.175 --> 00:19:24.035 Number two, people are benefiting and becoming better. 363 00:19:24.815 --> 00:19:27.995 But number three, you as a leader are being transformed. 364 00:19:29.455 --> 00:19:32.165 Every calling, every mission that God gives us is 365 00:19:32.165 --> 00:19:33.725 for our own sanctification. 366 00:19:34.265 --> 00:19:38.605 And for us to experience more and more and more and more 367 00:19:38.665 --> 00:19:39.885 and more of who he is. 368 00:19:40.905 --> 00:19:43.805 That's the reason why God sent Moses to the children 369 00:19:43.865 --> 00:19:46.245 of Israel with, uh, to Pharaoh, 370 00:19:46.245 --> 00:19:48.085 with nothing more than a stick in a promise. 371 00:19:48.265 --> 00:19:52.605 Now, think about this. Don't get too hard on Pharaoh here. 372 00:19:52.605 --> 00:19:56.605 This dude comes walking into the palace smelling like sheep. 373 00:19:56.705 --> 00:19:58.285 And he is got a shepherd's crook. 374 00:19:59.225 --> 00:20:01.445 And he has the audacity to say, 375 00:20:01.905 --> 00:20:04.805 let these 2.5 million Israelites go. 376 00:20:05.865 --> 00:20:08.085 And Pharaoh's saying, have you lost your ever loving mind 377 00:20:08.085 --> 00:20:11.295 to go where God said, 378 00:20:13.485 --> 00:20:16.145 and each step of the way, he had to press into God. 379 00:20:17.995 --> 00:20:20.615 God gave him, he didn't give him scenario planning. 380 00:20:21.355 --> 00:20:22.815 He didn't give him eventualities. 381 00:20:23.435 --> 00:20:25.095 He gave him a cloud during the day. 382 00:20:25.155 --> 00:20:26.855 He gave him a pillow of fire at night. 383 00:20:26.855 --> 00:20:29.175 And he said, when you see that move, you get your backside 384 00:20:29.175 --> 00:20:32.985 and gear, and y'all move every day. 385 00:20:33.165 --> 00:20:36.745 And Exodus chapter 33, Moses went to the tent meeting. 386 00:20:38.865 --> 00:20:40.445 He was pitched outside the camp, 387 00:20:40.505 --> 00:20:43.485 and Joshua went with him, stayed outside of the tent. 388 00:20:44.275 --> 00:20:45.565 When Moses would go in there, 389 00:20:45.645 --> 00:20:47.085 I guarantee you, I know what he prayed. 390 00:20:48.575 --> 00:20:52.095 I know what he prayed. So do you, God, 391 00:20:52.205 --> 00:20:55.125 help me, show me. 392 00:20:57.045 --> 00:21:00.005 And God would show him, and God would show him. 393 00:21:00.785 --> 00:21:03.325 God would show him. God would show him, 394 00:21:06.145 --> 00:21:07.325 see, here, here, here's the point. 395 00:21:12.675 --> 00:21:14.255 On your way to doing something, 396 00:21:14.275 --> 00:21:15.535 you have to become something. 397 00:21:17.985 --> 00:21:20.315 Did you hear me? Listen to me. 398 00:21:22.795 --> 00:21:25.275 I I don't think technically speaking, 399 00:21:25.585 --> 00:21:28.275 most people get burnt out by doing too much. 400 00:21:29.075 --> 00:21:32.165 Uh, you can, I think 401 00:21:34.475 --> 00:21:38.285 most of us get burnt out by doing what God called us 402 00:21:38.285 --> 00:21:39.325 to do the wrong way, 403 00:21:43.075 --> 00:21:46.645 by assuming sovereignty, by acting 404 00:21:46.665 --> 00:21:48.445 as if we're the fourth members of the Trinity, 405 00:21:52.555 --> 00:21:54.455 by getting away from a dependent posture. 406 00:21:58.075 --> 00:21:59.335 Who was it? Phillips Brooks, 407 00:21:59.355 --> 00:22:02.575 the 19th century pastor from New England said, don't ask 408 00:22:02.575 --> 00:22:04.095 for powers equal to your task. 409 00:22:07.205 --> 00:22:09.845 I know don't ask for tasks equal to to your powers, rather, 410 00:22:10.345 --> 00:22:14.765 but ask for powers equal to your task so that the doing of, 411 00:22:14.825 --> 00:22:16.525 of the mi of the work is not the miracle, 412 00:22:16.705 --> 00:22:19.405 but you become the miracle in the process of doing the work. 413 00:22:20.265 --> 00:22:25.215 And as a Christian leader in the secular marketplace, 414 00:22:27.345 --> 00:22:30.085 you are the manifestation of the transforming power 415 00:22:30.105 --> 00:22:32.445 of the gospel and the transforming power of Christ. 416 00:22:32.635 --> 00:22:34.765 Your enterprise, what you're leading 417 00:22:35.435 --> 00:22:39.045 must never be separated from communion with God. 418 00:22:42.525 --> 00:22:45.515 Every great man or woman of God that God has trusted 419 00:22:45.515 --> 00:22:48.415 with his assignments has been branded 420 00:22:48.415 --> 00:22:51.015 and marked by brokenness, been branded 421 00:22:51.015 --> 00:22:53.015 and marked by uncommon communion. 422 00:22:54.915 --> 00:22:57.395 But thirdly, every great man 423 00:22:57.395 --> 00:22:59.875 or woman of God that God has trusted with his assignments, 424 00:23:03.835 --> 00:23:07.655 it's been branded by, that has been marked 425 00:23:08.395 --> 00:23:12.895 by servanthood as an identity and not as a strategy. 426 00:23:15.425 --> 00:23:16.805 Now, I make that distinction. 427 00:23:18.675 --> 00:23:22.015 Um, you know, servant leadership, actually, 428 00:23:22.455 --> 00:23:25.655 actually I know we say servant leadership is dominant, uh, 429 00:23:26.495 --> 00:23:28.335 metaphor portrait in the Bible of leadership, 430 00:23:28.335 --> 00:23:29.815 but actually dominant metaphor 431 00:23:29.815 --> 00:23:31.775 and portrait of leadership in the Bible 432 00:23:32.895 --> 00:23:33.915 is that of a shepherd. 433 00:23:36.245 --> 00:23:40.465 But servant leadership, I, I don't know, 434 00:23:40.465 --> 00:23:42.865 maybe I'm a tad bit cynical and I'll, I'll take that. 435 00:23:42.925 --> 00:23:45.390 But in recent years, you know, you listen 436 00:23:45.390 --> 00:23:48.190 to podcasts on leadership or you read a blog on leadership 437 00:23:48.190 --> 00:23:51.445 or magazine or, or a book or this kind of thing. 438 00:23:51.995 --> 00:23:53.725 Somewhere in the opening paragraphs, 439 00:23:54.115 --> 00:23:55.205 it's servant leadership. 440 00:23:55.985 --> 00:24:00.845 And, and sometimes, sometimes I get the feeling that we use 441 00:24:00.845 --> 00:24:02.685 that in a utilitarian way. 442 00:24:03.975 --> 00:24:07.135 You know what I mean? That, that, that, that, uh, 443 00:24:07.155 --> 00:24:10.975 if I serve you, then of course, uh, you, you owe me. 444 00:24:12.115 --> 00:24:14.055 And so that, and so 445 00:24:14.055 --> 00:24:15.055 because you owe me, 446 00:24:15.085 --> 00:24:17.015 it's gonna affect the culture and the bottom line. 447 00:24:17.755 --> 00:24:19.615 And it becomes so terribly pragmatic. 448 00:24:20.915 --> 00:24:24.565 But in the Bible, servanthood 449 00:24:25.425 --> 00:24:26.485 was not a strategy. 450 00:24:27.385 --> 00:24:31.765 It wasn't a technique. It wasn't a chip to be quid pro quo. 451 00:24:32.305 --> 00:24:36.385 It was an identity. It was an identity 452 00:24:38.425 --> 00:24:41.005 you serve because you are a servant. 453 00:24:41.745 --> 00:24:42.965 See, if you give looking 454 00:24:42.985 --> 00:24:45.245 for something in return, y'all know this. 455 00:24:45.265 --> 00:24:47.205 If you give looking for something in return, 456 00:24:47.205 --> 00:24:48.725 you haven't given, you've invested. 457 00:24:51.605 --> 00:24:55.515 But we're called to sacrifice. Did you hear me? 458 00:24:57.945 --> 00:25:01.935 Hear me on this? We're called to lose 459 00:25:01.965 --> 00:25:03.015 that others might win. 460 00:25:03.675 --> 00:25:07.805 That's the picture 461 00:25:09.405 --> 00:25:13.225 of what it means to serve your authority. 462 00:25:13.365 --> 00:25:16.865 To lead is in direct relationship to your ability 463 00:25:17.005 --> 00:25:22.005 to serve, to serve. 464 00:25:23.725 --> 00:25:26.705 The classic illustration of this is John 13, isn't it? 465 00:25:29.465 --> 00:25:32.295 Jesus is in the upper room. We know what's taking place. 466 00:25:33.205 --> 00:25:36.135 It's the beginning of the upper room discourse. 467 00:25:38.795 --> 00:25:41.745 Jesus is winding down his earthly ministry. 468 00:25:42.825 --> 00:25:44.405 The great crowds are no longer with him. 469 00:25:45.905 --> 00:25:49.205 You gotta pay the price. By the way, let me just say this, 470 00:25:49.235 --> 00:25:50.325 free of charge, okay? 471 00:25:51.205 --> 00:25:53.885 I I, I've, I've said this, but, and, and I've said it. 472 00:25:53.885 --> 00:25:56.725 And I think in a way this is gently speaking, right? 473 00:25:56.725 --> 00:25:58.885 But we gotta be careful of certain poppish 474 00:25:58.885 --> 00:26:00.005 things that we say. 475 00:26:00.785 --> 00:26:04.165 For example, we say stuff like, uh, well, the real test 476 00:26:04.165 --> 00:26:05.765 of your leadership is followership. 477 00:26:06.585 --> 00:26:11.245 Uh, be careful saying that. Be careful saying that. 478 00:26:12.745 --> 00:26:17.385 If that's true, then Jesus was a dismal failure as a leader. 479 00:26:18.685 --> 00:26:23.205 If that's true, Moses was a hellacious failure as a leader. 480 00:26:24.825 --> 00:26:26.725 My goodness, if that was true, Paul 481 00:26:28.305 --> 00:26:29.605 was a failure as a leader. 482 00:26:30.425 --> 00:26:32.405 Now, I do get it. I I do get that. 483 00:26:32.605 --> 00:26:36.605 I mean, if you can't motivate people, I I, that I would say 484 00:26:36.605 --> 00:26:38.565 that's relatively true. 485 00:26:38.745 --> 00:26:42.205 But not in submit, in submit, uh, submit. 486 00:26:42.265 --> 00:26:44.685 I'm having a altitude problem here. 487 00:26:45.185 --> 00:26:50.085 Um, so we come to the upper room, Jesus is gonna die. 488 00:26:53.425 --> 00:26:57.275 He's gonna cry out, Eloy, eloy lama Suby, my God, my God, 489 00:26:57.295 --> 00:26:58.395 why have you forsaken me? 490 00:26:59.375 --> 00:27:01.985 Your sins? And my sins placed on him 491 00:27:04.635 --> 00:27:06.135 is these 12 disciples. 492 00:27:08.385 --> 00:27:11.005 My research indicates that if you went to a home 493 00:27:11.005 --> 00:27:13.285 of some substance back then they had servants. 494 00:27:14.415 --> 00:27:17.195 And it was the job of the lowliest of all the servants 495 00:27:17.255 --> 00:27:19.195 to wash the feet of the invited guests. 496 00:27:19.905 --> 00:27:22.405 And the reason why they washed feet back then was 497 00:27:22.405 --> 00:27:25.645 because it was like, you know, I'm, I'm from Georgia, man. 498 00:27:25.675 --> 00:27:29.445 It's like, you come to visit our homes in July, August, 499 00:27:29.635 --> 00:27:32.525 June, whatever it is, hot as the dickens down there. 500 00:27:32.525 --> 00:27:36.245 We're gonna give you a tall glass of authentic sweet tea. 501 00:27:37.355 --> 00:27:38.965 It's inauthentic if it ain't sweet. 502 00:27:39.545 --> 00:27:41.285 Uh, so it was, 503 00:27:41.285 --> 00:27:44.725 it was the hospitality thing they walked. 504 00:27:44.725 --> 00:27:46.605 Another reason why they washed feet was 505 00:27:46.605 --> 00:27:48.085 because they reclined to eat 506 00:27:48.085 --> 00:27:50.605 and they didn't want somebody's dirty dogs in their falafel. 507 00:27:51.145 --> 00:27:54.285 So that's, that's basically true. 508 00:27:57.595 --> 00:28:00.015 But it was the job of the lowliest of all the servants, 509 00:28:01.985 --> 00:28:05.495 the lowliest of all the servants who wash feet 510 00:28:07.945 --> 00:28:10.945 and, and don't, don't, don't get on Peter. 511 00:28:13.085 --> 00:28:14.255 What does Jesus do? 512 00:28:15.025 --> 00:28:19.785 Jesus could have played the delegation card, Peter, James, 513 00:28:19.785 --> 00:28:21.185 John Andrew, brother Iron Thomas, 514 00:28:21.325 --> 00:28:22.585 get some water and wash his feet. 515 00:28:24.815 --> 00:28:28.345 My heart is heavy. Nobody would've blamed him for that. 516 00:28:29.885 --> 00:28:33.765 What does he do? He takes off his outer garment. 517 00:28:33.765 --> 00:28:35.725 Now there's a little detail there that we go, we, 518 00:28:35.745 --> 00:28:37.525 we go past. 519 00:28:38.635 --> 00:28:40.255 He, he wasn't standing there naked. 520 00:28:40.395 --> 00:28:41.855 He took off his outer garment 521 00:28:41.875 --> 00:28:44.455 and he was wearing, it's this undergarment. 522 00:28:44.455 --> 00:28:45.695 It was called an in Beaumont. 523 00:28:46.195 --> 00:28:48.615 That's what's servants wore when they 524 00:28:48.635 --> 00:28:49.935 worked around the house. 525 00:28:50.345 --> 00:28:54.255 Point being, Jesus was even looking like a servant. 526 00:28:57.655 --> 00:28:59.195 He gets on his hands and knees. 527 00:29:01.255 --> 00:29:05.245 Jesus the Lord of history, he created them. 528 00:29:06.815 --> 00:29:08.155 He was gonna die for them. 529 00:29:10.865 --> 00:29:13.125 And Peter says, and you would've said the same thing. 530 00:29:14.225 --> 00:29:16.605 He talked to me too many funny jokes about Peter 531 00:29:16.705 --> 00:29:17.725 as if he was weird. 532 00:29:19.175 --> 00:29:21.685 Peter. Peter said, don't, don't do that. 533 00:29:23.375 --> 00:29:24.515 That's demeaning. 534 00:29:27.665 --> 00:29:28.725 And there's so many words. 535 00:29:29.175 --> 00:29:33.565 Jesus says, Peter, hey man, but he'd be quiet. 536 00:29:36.805 --> 00:29:38.645 I want to teach her a lesson in leadership 537 00:29:40.855 --> 00:29:45.385 that I don't ever, ever, ever want you to forget. 538 00:29:49.555 --> 00:29:53.385 That is your authority to lead comes 539 00:29:53.385 --> 00:29:55.385 through your ability to serve. 540 00:29:58.315 --> 00:30:01.425 Don't you ever ask anybody to who reports to you to do 541 00:30:01.945 --> 00:30:03.465 anything that either you have not done 542 00:30:03.465 --> 00:30:04.465 or you're not willing to do? 543 00:30:08.665 --> 00:30:10.795 What do we have that has not been given to us? 544 00:30:14.475 --> 00:30:17.015 All of leadership is about being stewards of the honor 545 00:30:17.035 --> 00:30:18.415 and glory of God 546 00:30:20.525 --> 00:30:22.185 and not the shepherding of my career. 547 00:30:27.105 --> 00:30:29.445 We just need to tone it down. Tone it down. 548 00:30:33.145 --> 00:30:35.465 I find the arrogance repulsive. 549 00:30:38.335 --> 00:30:38.985 Tone it down. 550 00:30:44.335 --> 00:30:47.105 Servanthood is fueled by authentic humility. 551 00:30:52.745 --> 00:30:54.845 And the moment you stop being grateful, 552 00:30:58.905 --> 00:31:00.645 you have turned toward entitlement. 553 00:31:02.415 --> 00:31:05.435 And entitlement is a half a click away from narcissism. 554 00:31:14.265 --> 00:31:17.335 We serve, we serve. 555 00:31:18.495 --> 00:31:19.695 I have a conviction of mine. 556 00:31:19.695 --> 00:31:21.095 And I don't pass this on anybody else 557 00:31:21.335 --> 00:31:23.455 'cause I don't want to, I'm not judging anybody about this, 558 00:31:23.595 --> 00:31:28.435 but I got convicted about this principle, my goodness, 559 00:31:28.435 --> 00:31:31.705 over 50 years ago, newly married. 560 00:31:31.725 --> 00:31:36.655 And I made a commitment to the Lord just to protect myself. 561 00:31:38.045 --> 00:31:41.285 I will never ask for speaking engagement in my life. 562 00:31:45.195 --> 00:31:47.795 I will never campaign for a position of leadership 563 00:31:51.045 --> 00:31:52.895 because I don't wanna become a head case. 564 00:31:54.765 --> 00:31:56.525 I will be an aggressive follower. 565 00:31:59.235 --> 00:32:00.845 I'll serve what you want me to serve. 566 00:32:05.935 --> 00:32:07.075 And when you want me to walk 567 00:32:07.075 --> 00:32:08.315 through a door, you come get me. 568 00:32:09.505 --> 00:32:11.245 God doesn't have a speech impediment 569 00:32:14.065 --> 00:32:17.805 that's just to protect me in my head. 570 00:32:22.025 --> 00:32:25.905 We serve at a young man. 571 00:32:26.335 --> 00:32:28.265 When I was with Campus Crusade for Christ. 572 00:32:28.325 --> 00:32:31.345 He reported in a division I was given leadership to 573 00:32:31.405 --> 00:32:33.145 and loved this young guy. 574 00:32:33.525 --> 00:32:37.665 And, uh, very, very, very gifted. Very gifted. Very gifted. 575 00:32:38.145 --> 00:32:40.605 I mean, articulate, great presence up upfront. 576 00:32:41.145 --> 00:32:43.045 But he had this, had this bad habit. 577 00:32:43.225 --> 00:32:45.445 If he was, didn't feel like he was getting the attention, 578 00:32:46.955 --> 00:32:49.495 God would call him to another area of ministry. 579 00:32:49.495 --> 00:32:51.095 And the problem with a huge organization 580 00:32:51.115 --> 00:32:52.215 is that you can hide, right? 581 00:32:52.215 --> 00:32:54.455 You can transfer. And he was doing that, 582 00:32:54.455 --> 00:32:55.735 and I was getting a little nervous for him 583 00:32:55.975 --> 00:32:57.775 'cause he was getting a little older, and I 584 00:32:57.775 --> 00:32:58.935 heard he was doing this again. 585 00:32:58.935 --> 00:33:01.975 And so I asked to see him, and he came into my office. 586 00:33:02.175 --> 00:33:04.255 I said, I need your permission to talk 587 00:33:04.255 --> 00:33:05.815 to you like I would one of my sons. 588 00:33:05.815 --> 00:33:07.175 Will you give me that permission? 589 00:33:07.995 --> 00:33:09.125 Yeah, Crawford, he said, 590 00:33:09.125 --> 00:33:10.485 I I hear you wanna make another change. 591 00:33:11.425 --> 00:33:12.795 Yeah, I think I paid my dues. 592 00:33:12.795 --> 00:33:15.355 And I, and that's always a, I, you know, I I get 593 00:33:16.245 --> 00:33:17.555 don't use that around me. 594 00:33:19.695 --> 00:33:21.515 So I I I'm not paying my dues. 595 00:33:21.535 --> 00:33:23.115 I'm, and I wanna do what you do. 596 00:33:23.115 --> 00:33:24.555 And this kind of, and I, 597 00:33:25.775 --> 00:33:26.795 and I said, you know what, 598 00:33:29.825 --> 00:33:31.725 no doubt you do have great ability. 599 00:33:33.195 --> 00:33:37.155 You're amazing, man. But son, listen to me. 600 00:33:39.155 --> 00:33:40.695 God won't give you what you want 601 00:33:40.695 --> 00:33:42.135 because you won't stick around long 602 00:33:42.135 --> 00:33:43.175 enough to get what you need. 603 00:33:46.125 --> 00:33:48.265 And what you need is to crucify that 604 00:33:48.535 --> 00:33:50.425 outside ego that you have. 605 00:33:53.375 --> 00:33:56.675 You need to learn how to finish stuff and serve. 606 00:34:00.035 --> 00:34:01.055 If you don't do that, 607 00:34:01.055 --> 00:34:04.175 you're gonna inject ealing fluid in your effectiveness. 608 00:34:04.635 --> 00:34:04.855 Boy, 609 00:34:12.385 --> 00:34:14.895 every great man or woman of God that God's trusted 610 00:34:15.045 --> 00:34:16.135 with his assignments, 611 00:34:19.555 --> 00:34:21.365 they've been branded by brokenness. 612 00:34:24.505 --> 00:34:26.915 They've been branded by uncommon communion. 613 00:34:28.595 --> 00:34:32.285 They've been branded by servanthood as an identity 614 00:34:32.285 --> 00:34:33.525 that they're pay the price. 615 00:34:36.445 --> 00:34:39.845 And fourthly, they've been branded by radical, 616 00:34:40.635 --> 00:34:42.845 immediate obedience. 617 00:34:44.865 --> 00:34:48.295 Great men and women of God did not take, 618 00:34:50.435 --> 00:34:52.255 did not reduce God's call 619 00:34:52.435 --> 00:34:55.415 or assignments for them to a series of career options. 620 00:34:57.625 --> 00:34:59.915 They weren't shopping for fulfillment. 621 00:35:01.865 --> 00:35:04.115 They were focused on obedience and purpose. 622 00:35:05.575 --> 00:35:07.555 If you fulfill God's purpose for you, 623 00:35:07.815 --> 00:35:10.035 you'll be more fulfilled than you'll ever imagine. 624 00:35:11.305 --> 00:35:13.765 The irony is, all the people I've met in my life 625 00:35:13.765 --> 00:35:16.525 who have chased down fulfillment, go for fulfillment, go 626 00:35:16.525 --> 00:35:17.565 for fulfillment, are the most 627 00:35:17.565 --> 00:35:18.805 unfulfilled people I've ever met. 628 00:35:19.485 --> 00:35:22.775 Because fulfillment is a byproduct of right purpose 629 00:35:23.315 --> 00:35:24.335 and obedience. 630 00:35:24.955 --> 00:35:29.655 And finishing, finishing 631 00:35:32.165 --> 00:35:33.415 what God's called you to do, 632 00:35:35.825 --> 00:35:37.200 there's this great text, 633 00:35:37.200 --> 00:35:40.635 and I'll land a plane on this in Acts chapter 13. 634 00:35:43.555 --> 00:35:46.245 This is Paul's eulogy of David. 635 00:35:48.265 --> 00:35:51.965 He says here in verse, uh, 22, this, 636 00:35:52.195 --> 00:35:54.605 he's contrasting the motivation of Saul with the motivation 637 00:35:54.605 --> 00:35:56.525 of David picking it up in the middle of the narrative. 638 00:35:56.745 --> 00:35:57.965 He says in verse 22, 639 00:35:58.185 --> 00:36:02.285 and when he, meaning God had removed him, 640 00:36:02.395 --> 00:36:05.725 meaning Saul, he raised of David to be their king 641 00:36:06.105 --> 00:36:07.285 of whom he testified 642 00:36:07.305 --> 00:36:11.805 and said, I have found in David, the son of Jesse, a man 643 00:36:11.855 --> 00:36:14.205 after my heart who will do all my will. 644 00:36:14.345 --> 00:36:15.925 Now, I do need to make this common here. 645 00:36:16.425 --> 00:36:18.125 We know that David screwed up royally. 646 00:36:18.615 --> 00:36:19.885 David had problem with women. 647 00:36:19.935 --> 00:36:21.605 David killed somebody, mean he, 648 00:36:21.755 --> 00:36:23.325 when he says, man, it's my own heart. 649 00:36:23.325 --> 00:36:25.005 Well, what does he mean by that? Well, it meant 650 00:36:25.005 --> 00:36:27.205 that David kept stumbling toward obedience. 651 00:36:28.585 --> 00:36:30.365 He kept stumbling toward repentance. 652 00:36:32.665 --> 00:36:35.165 And he says, who do all my will in the Greek text, 653 00:36:35.265 --> 00:36:38.805 the word will, there is plural who do my wills. 654 00:36:39.225 --> 00:36:41.765 Now if you drop your eye down here to verse, uh, what is it? 655 00:36:41.765 --> 00:36:44.725 Verse 20, verse 36, I'm sorry for David, 656 00:36:44.735 --> 00:36:49.555 after he had served the purpose of God, all 657 00:36:49.555 --> 00:36:53.035 of those wills, weaving the tapestry of God's purpose, 658 00:36:53.485 --> 00:36:54.595 after he had served the purpose 659 00:36:54.595 --> 00:36:56.635 of God in his own generation, he fell asleep 660 00:36:57.655 --> 00:36:59.995 and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption. 661 00:37:06.115 --> 00:37:10.985 He finished, he did what God 662 00:37:11.685 --> 00:37:14.225 called him to do. 663 00:37:20.185 --> 00:37:24.605 He did it. He did it. 664 00:37:27.145 --> 00:37:28.645 And that's my passion right now. 665 00:37:35.915 --> 00:37:37.255 Not about platform. 666 00:37:40.325 --> 00:37:41.255 It's not about that. 667 00:37:46.235 --> 00:37:48.335 Did you do what God told you to do? 668 00:37:52.365 --> 00:37:55.135 Bill Bright had an, an enormous impact on my life. 669 00:37:55.135 --> 00:37:56.575 He was the late founder and president 670 00:37:56.575 --> 00:37:58.055 of Campus Crusade for Christ. 671 00:37:59.455 --> 00:38:00.505 Huge impact on me. 672 00:38:01.655 --> 00:38:05.675 Dr. Bright, as many of you around know, uh, died 673 00:38:05.695 --> 00:38:08.835 of pulmonary fibrosis, which is an insidious disease, 674 00:38:08.855 --> 00:38:10.875 you actually die of asphyxiation. 675 00:38:13.075 --> 00:38:14.695 But in the last 18 months 676 00:38:14.755 --> 00:38:19.485 or so of his life, two years, 18 months of his life, 677 00:38:20.655 --> 00:38:24.235 um, he, he would still attend. 678 00:38:24.435 --> 00:38:25.555 I would served on the US cabinet. 679 00:38:25.695 --> 00:38:28.435 He would still attend our US cabinet meetings. 680 00:38:30.625 --> 00:38:32.285 And in each of those meetings, two 681 00:38:32.285 --> 00:38:34.685 or three of those meetings, he would say this 682 00:38:37.005 --> 00:38:38.665 and all of us would be weeping. 683 00:38:40.005 --> 00:38:41.225 He would call our names out. 684 00:38:41.245 --> 00:38:42.265 He would look around the room 685 00:38:42.265 --> 00:38:46.935 and he would say, Josh McDowell, Dennis Rady, 686 00:38:49.135 --> 00:38:51.245 Andre Cole Crawford. 687 00:38:52.765 --> 00:38:54.545 You don't have to be successful, 688 00:38:56.285 --> 00:38:58.385 but you do have to be obedient. 689 00:39:09.885 --> 00:39:11.025 By the way, if you're obedient, 690 00:39:11.025 --> 00:39:12.545 you'd probably be more successful than 691 00:39:12.545 --> 00:39:13.625 you could ever dream or imagine. 692 00:39:19.965 --> 00:39:22.305 That's the stuff that communicates 693 00:39:22.785 --> 00:39:25.565 resilience in your leadership. 694 00:39:29.545 --> 00:39:31.255 Brokenness, uncommon communion, 695 00:39:31.255 --> 00:39:32.975 servanthood, identity, not as a strategy. 696 00:39:32.975 --> 00:39:36.375 Radical and I, media obedience, uh, communicates. 697 00:39:36.375 --> 00:39:38.695 And this is, it is an old word, but it's a beautiful word. 698 00:39:38.755 --> 00:39:40.335 It communicates nobility. 699 00:39:42.685 --> 00:39:45.525 Nobility is that which is always refreshingly, right? 700 00:39:45.665 --> 00:39:49.085 It was right 2000 years ago. It's gonna be right over here. 701 00:39:49.085 --> 00:39:50.285 It doesn't have a shelf life. 702 00:39:52.495 --> 00:39:53.625 It's not faddish, 703 00:39:58.075 --> 00:39:59.535 but it's the signature of God. 704 00:40:00.635 --> 00:40:02.095 During your moment in history, 705 00:40:04.795 --> 00:40:06.905 leadership is built on that. 706 00:40:11.455 --> 00:40:12.835 It expresses it that way. 707 00:40:14.565 --> 00:40:17.505 And that's who we are while my time is up. 708 00:40:18.085 --> 00:40:21.925 Father, thank you for yourself, Lord God, help us. 709 00:40:23.185 --> 00:40:25.875 This stuff has a way of evaporating and leaking. 710 00:40:27.535 --> 00:40:30.795 We get ambushed and sabotaged. 711 00:40:32.175 --> 00:40:36.875 Our minds get cluttered. We get panicky. 712 00:40:38.115 --> 00:40:42.375 But God, will you help us, help us to stay in your presence. 713 00:40:43.775 --> 00:40:45.065 Help us to hear your voice. 714 00:40:46.315 --> 00:40:49.905 Give us the courage, oh God, to be bold. 715 00:40:51.085 --> 00:40:55.335 Not because we have bo have bombastic personalities, but 716 00:40:55.335 --> 00:40:57.575 because we have an incomparable God. 717 00:40:58.725 --> 00:41:02.955 Thank you, Jesus Smile on our lives and our families. 718 00:41:02.975 --> 00:41:05.355 We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.