Leading with Authority: Embrace Your God-Given Role
Titus 2:15
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
As Paul addresses another one of his sons in the faith, Titus, he exhorts him just as he did Timothy to let no man despise him. To Timothy, he put it this way, “Let no man despise thy youth…” Two young men have been given the same exhortation in the ministry, which shows us that there is a very significant truth to learn early on in ministry. The lesson is this; we are not to conduct ourselves in such a way that others could justifiably despise, or resent or find fault with, our leadership. This requires two key elements in our leadership; first, we are to be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
Second, we are to be so confident in our calling, that we offer no hesitation in exercising the fullest authority that comes with that calling. This means that we are, as our text says, to speak, exhort, and rebuke with ALL authority. It is time that we as leaders rise up in our calling with the godly character and conduct required to set things in order at the house of God without reservation or hesitation. We must get past the barrier of intimidation that Satan throws at us as we lead the flock of God into all truth and in the service of the Lord.
We must stand flat-footed, with head held high, with shoulders squared back, with strength in our backbone, with clarity in our voice, and with eyes full of fire, to declare what thus saith the Word of the Lord, right in the middle of this wicked and perverse generation. We are to be wise as serpents, harmless as doves, and bold as lions in our leadership. Young men of the gospel, take the lead that God has given you, and do just that, LEAD! If God wanted others to lead, He would have promoted them, but He didn’t! He picked YOU! Stand up, be strong and courageous, look the devil in the eyes, and stare him down if you have to, but lead with full confidence and assurance that the Lord will stand by you and with you! No matter what you are facing, and no matter whether or not you feel you are experienced enough, old enough, or respected enough, if God called you to the task, trust His pick, and unapologetically operate in the fullest authority of your calling, and God will help you become the giant of faith that you need to be!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
As Paul addresses another one of his sons in the faith, Titus, he exhorts him just as he did Timothy to let no man despise him. To Timothy, he put it this way, “Let no man despise thy youth…” Two young men have been given the same exhortation in the ministry, which shows us that there is a very significant truth to learn early on in ministry. The lesson is this; we are not to conduct ourselves in such a way that others could justifiably despise, or resent or find fault with, our leadership. This requires two key elements in our leadership; first, we are to be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
Second, we are to be so confident in our calling, that we offer no hesitation in exercising the fullest authority that comes with that calling. This means that we are, as our text says, to speak, exhort, and rebuke with ALL authority. It is time that we as leaders rise up in our calling with the godly character and conduct required to set things in order at the house of God without reservation or hesitation. We must get past the barrier of intimidation that Satan throws at us as we lead the flock of God into all truth and in the service of the Lord.
We must stand flat-footed, with head held high, with shoulders squared back, with strength in our backbone, with clarity in our voice, and with eyes full of fire, to declare what thus saith the Word of the Lord, right in the middle of this wicked and perverse generation. We are to be wise as serpents, harmless as doves, and bold as lions in our leadership. Young men of the gospel, take the lead that God has given you, and do just that, LEAD! If God wanted others to lead, He would have promoted them, but He didn’t! He picked YOU! Stand up, be strong and courageous, look the devil in the eyes, and stare him down if you have to, but lead with full confidence and assurance that the Lord will stand by you and with you! No matter what you are facing, and no matter whether or not you feel you are experienced enough, old enough, or respected enough, if God called you to the task, trust His pick, and unapologetically operate in the fullest authority of your calling, and God will help you become the giant of faith that you need to be!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill