2 Chronicles 35:20
20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.
21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.”
SOMETIMES GOD WILL SPEAK THROUGH PEOPLE YOU DON’T WANT TO LISTEN TO… because we don’t listen, we find ourselves in the midst of a crisis situation…
Josiah goes DIRECTLY INTO ACTION DURING CRISIS - without praying / without talking.
All of a sudden he found himself in CRISIS LEADERSHIP:
Leading during crisis.
could be:
– a financial crisis in your organization.
– a national crisis that affects everyone.
– a crisis within the org of loss of key people.
1. LEADERS DON’T ALLOW OUTSIDE
There are THREE ENEMIES to your progress of your purpose:
- The world
- The devil
- The flesh
Ephesians 2:1 - 3 (AMPC)
1 And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins.
2 In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].
3 Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God’s] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
POWER is the ability and authority you have to
FORCE people to do something.
INFLUENCE is the ability to change how someone else behaves or thinks based on persuasion instead of authority.
As leaders we need to keep an eye on the influence that outside forces pose on our teams.
WE DO NOT CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF OUR AREA OF INFLUENCE
- I can’t control how my leader’s marriage is.
- I can’t control their financial status -
- I can’t control the economic crisis
- I can’t control what the government always does
- but we CAN CONTROL how that influence affects attitudes, performance and expectations.
LEADERSHIP ACTION toward NEGATIVE INFLUENCE changes things immediately.
PICC YOUR BATTLES
P ERSUATION -
Logical arguments to explain your point of view.
Instead of telling someone to do something because you’re in charge and you said so, you can persuade them that this is the best course of action to take.
1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
HOW:
- lovingly point out the logical fallacies in their own reasoning:
– ad hominim - it’s an insult, not an actual argument. using personal attacks rather than logic:
Straw man - attacks a different subject than the one being discussed:
Appeal to ignorance - something MUST BE TRUE because it has NOT BEEN PROVEN FALSE
False Dilemma - creating limited options of an either or
Circular argument - circular reasoning - “according to my brain, my brain is reliable”
I NSPIRATION -
Model the behavior you’d like to see from your team and explain how the outcome you want is linked to what the members of your team value.
Instead of telling your team to act a certain way, start acting it out yourself. LET THEM SEE YOU BE THE REPRESENTITIVE. Remind them that this behavior can help you all achieve a common goal.
Hebrews 10:24
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
C OLABORATION -
As an influence technique, you can provide support to your subordinates, so they have more reason to commit to a task. When you collaborate with your team, they see a committed leader which ultimately gives them more reason to commit on their own.
1 Corinthians 10:1
1 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
C ONSULTATION -
You can help members of your team become more motivated and committed to a common issue or task by asking for input or advice from them.
By asking to consult with members of your team, you show that you value their input, which gives them more reason to fully commit to their work.
2. LEADERS QUESTION EVERYTHING WHEN
It means constantly questioning your why’s and your how’s.
One of God’s names is El ROI - meaning the GOD WHO SEES!
Ask God to help you see things REALLY AS THEY ARE and guide your investing.
IN ORDER TO QUESTION EVERYTHING AND GET RESULTS YOU MUST ALSO OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR LEADERS
Some leaders are afraid to have conversations… it doesn’t mean confrontation always…
YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS DURING CRISIS!
It’s really about, can you lead great conversations?
IN FACT - the most powerful person as a leader is the person with the best questions.
LISTEN -
This is not the time to give advice… you simply listen… they will probably bring logical fallacies - this is not the time to correct… it’s an open engagement of gathering info.
EMPATHIZE -
this is the time to speak into them as a person. I can empathize with your thinking, your position, your struggle, your frustration….
AFFIRM -
THIS IS TIME TO MOTIVATE. You are capable. You are strong. You are here for a reason.
MOTIVATION X ABILITY = PERFORMANCE
DIRECT -
How can I help you to do what you need to do? …Okay… then do it.
HERE IS THE CLEAR DIRECTION TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS AREA.
ENLIST -
WHO can I pair you with to help you in your movement forward?
REFER -
WHAT INFORMATION / ARTICLES / SUPPORT can I get you to help you move forward??
3. LEADERS STAND FOR THEIR
2 Chronicles 35:22 - 27
22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchers of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.
26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD,
27 and his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
SOMETIMES IN LEADERSHIP - THE ENEMY’S GOAL ISN’T ACTUALLY TO ATTACK YOU - BUT YOU ARE IN THE WAY OF HIS PROGRESS.
Daniel 3:17 - 18
“…But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
What fires are we willing to step into for our faith?
Do we possess this “even if” kind of faith?
Be bold and claim an “even if” kind of faith today!
REGARDLESS he was not going to allow the enemy to go through his territory without a fight. Even if it meant the enemy was actually attacking someone else.
“SO WHAT IF THIS TAKES ME OUT… DO I STILL FIGHT? YES.”
It’s not going to… but even if it does…
EVEN IF faith is real faith.
- REAL LEADERS DECIDE HOW THEY WILL LIVE IN FRONT OF OTHERS
- REAL LEADERS STAND WHEN OTHERS SIT.
- REAL LEADERS SAY “I WILL STAND FOR WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS
- EVEN IF IT MAKES ME UNPOPULAR
- EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE GETS IT
- EVEN IF IT MEANS MY LIFE IS TAKEN”