From the Love Word Finding studios in Memphis, Tennessee, I'm Byron Tyler, here with the CEO of Love Word Finding, Kerry Vaughn. Kerry, today Adrienne Rogers looks at a message, the leadership crisis in America. And recently I was looking at an article entitled, Is There a Leadership Crisis in America?
It was written by Steve Toback in 2011, a CBS News Watch article. And it says, if I had to come up with one definition of leadership crisis in America, it would be the ability to motivate people to work together toward a common goal. Leadership is about uniting, not dividing. In that context, I'm thinking, Kerry, that we have a serious leadership problem in America.
Well, John Maxwell would say it this way. Everything rises and falls on leadership, even a nation. And so as we look at our great nation and we look at the leadership across the board, we need to be praying that God will raise men and women up.
Right? Dr. Rogers used to say it this way, that God can move his soldiers on the field wherever he deems necessary. But we need to be praying in that regard that, Lord, you will raise up your leaders and put them in a place where they can exemplify godly influence. Kerry, we also must remember, God has ordained our government and commanded us to get involved in the decisions made for this country. You know, Dr. Rogers would say sometimes that you will come into the church every Sunday morning and you will hear the gospel preached, and yet some people will go vote a different way. And that's a true statement.
And I have reflected on that for many, many years. And I think we have a responsibility as believers to cast a moral vote. Let me give you a description of a moral vote. We need to vote pro-God, pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, and even pro-business. The Word of God says this, if you don't work, you don't eat. We need to go and push the button for, right?
It is a moral vote, and we need to remind the people we have the responsibility and we have the privilege to do so. Well, it's our joy and privilege to always hear from our love we're finding listeners. This response from Facebook, there is a difference between a preacher and a craftsman. Adrian Rogers was a craftsman that few could equal. Every day I go for a walk and listen to his messages.
When I get home, I say, Adrian, I had a wonderful walk today. That's great. You know, Proverbs 29 says, when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. And so we need to pray that as God raises up these future leaders, that they are people that are part of the solution and never ever part of the problem. That they are leaders who are blameless, right?
And they are leaders who care more about serving than leading, if that makes sense. That's a wonderful resource to help those walk in Christ, grow in Christ, to deepen their understanding of the Word of God through the many resources. This month, we have a wonderful book called Battle for the Soul of America. Great book. You want to grab that, but you also want to give it away.
And I'm going to say that again. Give it away, right? Read it, but hand it out to everybody. This is an important election time. 2020 may go down in the history books, Byron, but it's going to be a great time.
As one of the most critical years that we have ever seen. Well, this book was originally an e-book, and it can still be downloaded if you would prefer doing it that way. But nothing like having that hard copy in your hand, right? You can make notes. You can highlight it.
You can put down a few nuggets and then give it away. Well, I'm really excited about this message from Adrian Rogers today. I hope our listeners will listen very carefully as he talks about what God requires in leadership. And why don't we turn to that message now?
Here's Adrian Rogers with Leadership Crisis in America. Now, before you make up your mind about that, but I'm going to tell you, out of the Word of God, how to vote. Now, I'm not going to mention names.
I'm not going to mention parties. But I'm going to give you some principles straight out of the Word of God. And I want you to use these principles as you go to the poll to vote.
And it's very, very important that you get these principles down in your heart and in your mind. Now, the message today centers around three thoughts concerning leadership. And the first thought is this, the character that God requires of leaders.
One of the most frightening things that I've heard is that people in America are saying, what difference does a man's character make so long as he can lead? Friend, there's a fatal flaw in that because when you say that character does not count, it makes no difference. What you're really saying is that God does not count. Because all character is based and rooted in God. What you're saying is, God, we can get along quite well without your blessing.
We're going to do it ourselves. Now, to say that character does not count, only skill, what would you think of a surgeon who performed surgery on you, but failed to scrub up before he performed surgery? He might be a skilled surgeon, but he will contaminate whatever he touches. And so a man who is an ungodly man, he might be a skilled surgeon, but he will contaminate whatever he touches.
And so a man without character will contaminate all that he touches. Now, let me give you some characteristics that a godly leader ought to have. Now, I want you to jot these scriptures down. These characteristics deal with kings, princes, judges, nobles, authorities that God has appointed or that men have elected. And I want you to see the characteristics that God says that a king, a prince, a noble, a leader, a judge ought to have.
And keep this in mind as we go to elect a national leader. Characteristic number one, he ought to be a godly and a righteous man. Proverbs 16, verse 12, it is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness.
An ungodly, unrighteous, immoral man is unfit for leadership. Second characteristic, not only must he be godly, he must be wise. And true wisdom comes from godliness. Put these scriptures down. Proverbs 8, verses 12 through 16. God speaks of wisdom and lets wisdom speak for itself when wisdom says, I, wisdom, dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, the pride and arrogance and the evil way and the froward mouth do I hate. Then wisdom continues to speak and says, counsel is mine and the sound wisdom. I am understanding. I have strength.
And now notice this next statement. By me, that is by wisdom, kings reign and princes decree justice. By me, princes rule and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. Which is more important, for a leader to be smart or for a leader to be wise? How much better to have a man at the helm of this country who is a wise man than a smart man?
Now, here's the third characteristic. The person that I vote for must be an honest man, an honest man. Proverbs 17, verse 7. Excellent speech becometh not a fool, much less do lying lips a prince.
Proverbs 20, verse 28. Mercy and truth preserve the king. Liars and leaders are not the same. If a man will not tell the truth, he has a basic character flaw and he is absolutely unfit for leadership. I know some politicians, you can always tell when they're lying.
That is when their lips are moving. But I want you to understand that when a man tells lies, it tells something about the man that's in his heart. A man is not a liar because he tells lies.
He tells lies because he's a liar. And any man that is a liar has a heart that is like the devil. Jesus said that. Next, I'm going to look for a man that is discriminating in his heart.
I'm going to look for a man in his choice of helpers. If a man does not surround himself with good and godly people, that man is unfit to lead. Listen to these verses. Proverbs 25, verses 4 and 5. Take away the dross from the silver and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
That means before you can make a vessel out of silver, you've got to take the dross out of it, the impurity, the scum out of the silver ore. And then in verse 5, God says, Take away the wicked from before the king and his throne shall be established in righteousness. Now, a leader is known by others that he chooses, that he surrounds himself with. And if the king surrounds himself with wicked people, his throne will not be established in righteousness. He cannot be a person who listens to lies. For the Bible says in Proverbs 29, verse 12, if a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. And if the man is not discriminating enough to choose the right people to help him, leaders who will lead along with him, he's unfit for national leadership. Another characteristic that we would expect in national leadership is sexual morality.
Sexual morality. Turn to Proverbs chapter 31 and listen. The words of King Lemuel. Now notice this is a king. The prophecy that his mother taught him.
Thank God he was a king that had a godly mother. What my son? And what the son of my womb?
And what the son of my vows? Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. Now, folks, that's the Word of God. And I am telling you, friend, that a man who is sexually immoral and does not keep his marriage vows is unfit for leadership.
It's very clear. The Bible says that destroys kings. The Word of God. Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. Now, if a man cannot keep earth's most sacred vow, that is, to his wife, how will he keep his promises? If a man cannot control his sexual urges, how shall he react in a time of national crisis? If a man cannot set a moral tone for himself, how is he going to set a moral tone for the boys and girls of this nation?
I'm looking for someone, therefore, who is not sexually immoral. Another characteristic that I look for in a national leader is a person who is sober. Proverbs 31, verses 4 and 5. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drink, lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. A man who is given to wine, or for that matter any intoxicate, whether it be some kind of a dope, is unfit for national leadership.
They say, what fools men are to put that in the mouths that steals their brains away. Another characteristic that I'm going to look for is a man who is willing and able to protect the weak. If he does not protect the weak, if he does not have a protective spirit, he's missed the reason for being a leader. Why does God give us leaders? Why does God give us civil magistrates to protect the weak? He doesn't protect us from evil people.
Leaders are primarily defenders of those who cannot defend themselves. Now, I want to give you a verse, and I want you to look at it very carefully this time you turn to it. I've been asking you to jot these down, but this is a very important verse, Proverbs 31, we've already been there, verses 8 and 9. Now, remember that God is speaking to the king, King Lemuel, and this is what God says, open thy mouth for the dumb. Now, the word dumb here does not mean the person who is ignorant, it means the person who cannot speak.
The person who does not have the ability to articulate for himself. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. When someone is about to be killed and cannot speak for themselves, the king is to speak for them. Verse 9 says, open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and the needy. Now, I'm looking for a person to lead who has a heart of compassion, and he has especially a heart of compassion for the poor, the needy, and the innocent who are about to be destroyed, who cannot speak for themselves. The Bible calls those the dumb, the inarticulate.
God says the king is to speak up for these kind of people, not endorse their destruction. I'm sick and tired of these politicians. They're talking about which politician should be elected according to his view on abortion. And somebody says, well, I think thus and such a person could get more votes if he lined up with the pro-abortion crowd.
That's wicked. Habakkuk 2, verse 12, woe unto him that buildeth a town with blood and stabilisheth a city by iniquity. I want somebody who's going to stand up for the innocent, stand up for the defenseless, and defend them.
Now, that's just a checklist. That's the character that God requires. Don't ever be so ignorant as to say that character does not make a difference. All you're saying is that God doesn't make a difference, or you're expecting God to bless iniquity. He cannot, he will not. Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord. Now, the second thing I want you to see, very quickly, not only the character that God requires, but the choice that God respects. Did you know that God allows us to choose wicked leaders? He gives us that choice. God sets his standards, but God allows people to choose wicked leaders, contrary to God's own will.
Put this verse down, Hosea chapter 8 and verse 4. They have set up kings, but not by me. That's what God says. They set up kings, but it wasn't my will.
That's the reason we say we get the kind of leadership we deserve. Wicked rulers are God's reward for wicked people. Samuel said to Israel, 1 Samuel chapter 8 verse 18, And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king, which you have chosen you, and the Lord will not hear you in that day. Because you're going to choose a king. You're going to choose the wrong king.
And then you're going to come to me and you're going to say, God, have mercy. You will cry out to me, but God says, I will not hear you because of the king that you have chosen. First point, the character that God requires. Second point, the choice that God respects. God wants people to choose even wicked leaders. Third point, the consequences that God reveals. What are the consequences when we choose wicked leaders?
Proverbs 29 verse 2, I've already read it to you. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. By our choice, by our vote, we're going to have righteous or wicked leaders. And we're either going to rejoice or we're going to weep.
May I tell you with a broken heart that America is in desperate trouble. God has taken down the protective hedge from this nation. I have to ask myself, will oceans of tears, rivers of blood, and seas of sweat be the price that we will pay for turning our back on Almighty God? Oh, that there might be a spiritual revival in America. Oh, that there might be an awakening and a turning to God.
But here's the fourth and final thing, lest we run out of time. Not only the consequences that God reveals, but the control that God reserves. Lest you think that God has lost control because we have people who are out of control, let us abuse you of that. God is still in control. And wherever man rules, God still overrules. Isaiah 40 verses 23 and 24 speaks of God, that bringeth the princes to nothing. He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
Yea, they shall not be planted, yea, they shall not be sown, yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth, and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as the stubble. Politicians come and politicians go, but God endures. God is the King of kings. Psalm 47 verse 7, for God is the King of all the earth.
That includes the heathen. That includes all of the nations, not just Israel. He is King forever. Psalm 29 verse 10 says, the Lord sitteth King forever.
We didn't vote him in, and we'll certainly not impeach him and vote him out. He is King forever. And where he does not rule, if Americans turn their backs on God, if Americans adopt slogans like it's the economy stupid, which is stupid in itself to say such a thing, if we do this, if we vote our pocketbooks rather than our consciences, and we do not let God's will be done, even where God does not rule, God will overrule. Psalm 33 verses 10 through 12, the Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught, and maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever. The thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. One day I had lunch with Cora Ten Boom, that gracious, great lady who suffered so much under Nazi persecution. I decided I would not talk much, but just listen. One thing she said was like a barb in my soul. She said, there is no panic in heaven, only plans.
I love that. Friend, the Holy Trinity never meets an emergency session. And where man may rule, God still overrules. Put this verse down, Isaiah 14 verses 26 and 27. This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it?
His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? Even ungodly rulers become instruments in the hand of Almighty God. The Bible says in Proverbs 21 verse 1, the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, and as the rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he will. And even when wicked men with wicked machinations stand on their own big feet and stick out their chest and shake their fist in the face of Almighty God and make wicked decrees, God still rules from heaven.
He still reigns. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. And just as He used Pharaoh in the Old Testament, just as He used the Persian king, Cyrus, just as He used Pilate when Jesus was condemned, He said to Pilate, You don't have any power but that which is given you above. Wherever man rules, God still overrules. The character that God requires, the choice that God respects, the consequences that God reveals, but the control that God retains, this is My Father's world, and God has sworn by Himself that He will put His King upon the holy hill of Zion, and friend, our hope is not in Washington, it is in heaven. We need to understand that.
We need to understand that kingdoms come and kingdoms go, but our Lord rules over all. What should we do? We should pray for revival. What should we do? We should plan for survival. What should we do? We should look for His arrival. That's what we should do. Pray for revival.
Pray, God bless us. The answer is not in the schoolhouse. It is not in the state house. It is not in the White House.
It is in the church house. It is still with God's people. We need to pray for revival.
We need to prepare for survival. You need to teach your boys and girls that it may not be like it was when you grew up. You need to build into them the truth of God's Word. Get them down, get serious, get an open Bible and teach them, but above all, look for His arrival when Jesus is coming. You say, Pastor, is that escapism? You can call it what you want, but I'm looking for Jesus to come. I'm looking for Jesus to come. I want to tell you, I love Jesus Christ. I'm not ashamed to call Him King, and I want you to know that the time is coming, no matter what happens in November, the day will come when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ. Amen. and click Discover Jesus. Well, what should we do about the leadership crisis in America? Pray for revival, prepare for suffering, prepare for His arrival, and let the voting polls be a reminder Jesus is coming soon. Be sure to tune in next time for more profound truth simply stated right here on Love Worth Finding.
Whisper: medium.en / 2024-02-04 22:06:50 / 2024-02-04 22:15:23 / 9