Faith & Leadership                   

Pastor Phil Derstine 11-17-24

  • I Timothy 6:11 “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight of the faith.”
  • Hebrews 11:1 “NOW FAITH IS the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

How Does Faith Fight? (3 Elements of Faith)

  1. Faith SEES – With Spiritual Eyes
  • I Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
  • II Kings 6:17 “And Elisha prayed, Oh Lord, open his eyes so he may see.  Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
  • Ephesians 1:18-19 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
  • II Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 
  1. Faith SPEAKS – With Declaration (of the Word)
    • Romans 10:8 “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming.”
    • Matthew 12:34 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
  • Ezekiel 37:3 (Valley of Dry Bones) “He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’  I said, ‘O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.’ (4) Then He said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!”
  • I Samuel 17:46 (David to Goliath) “TODAY the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head; and then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”
  1. Faith ACTS – Do Something!
    • James 2:17 “Faith without works (action, obedience) is dead.”
  • I Samuel 17:48 “As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.”

Miracles through Faith that Fights

  • Woman of Canaan – Matthew 15:21
  • Woman with issue of blood – Mark 5:25
  • Peter walked on water – Matthew 14:29
  • Two blind men – Matthew 20:30
  • The paralytic man – Luke 5:18

A Leader Lives by… (5 Characteristics of a Leader)

  1. Conviction (God’s Purpose)
  • I Samuel 17:26 "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?      Is there not a cause?"
  • A fixed or firm belief 
  • A state of being convinced
  • Living by absolutes, Biblical Standards
  • II Timothy 1:12 “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”
  • “A Leader is one who KNOWS the Way, GOES the Way, and SHOWS the Way.” – John C. Maxwell
  1. Instruction (In Righteousness)
  • Loves knowledge, training
  • Is teachable
  • IN authority & UNDER authority
  • Matthew 8:8 (Roman Centurion) “For I am a man under authority…”
  • David served under authority of his father, in the fields, as a shepherd... even after anointed to be King.
  1. Delegation (Team Minded)
    • Is Team Minded - Doesn't try to do it alone
    • Gives credit where credit is due
  • Matthew 10:1 – Jesus calls 12 disciples    Luke 10:1 – Jesus appoints another 70  
    • Nehemiah – Assigned different families to each gate, based on their gifts and callings (fishermen, shepherds)               
  • I Corinthians 12:27 "Now, you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it."  
  1. Inspiration (Revelation from God)
    • A Divine Influence
    • God's source of thought and ideas
    • Power of the Holy Spirit
  • Ephesians 1:18-19 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.”
  1. Declaration (Faith Speaks!)
  • Statement of Intent
  • Goals and Aspirations
  • I Samuel 17:32 (David & Goliath) “David said to Saul, Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”