The Inspired Leader: 101 Biblical Reflections for Becoming a Person of Influence (20 page)

JOHN CHURCHILL WAS a rising star among the British military during the eighteenth century. He was one of the prominent leaders who welcomed William and Mary to take the throne from King James II. Yet Churchill found himself in the disfavor of King William and was banished from public service for six years. More than that, his enemies viciously sought to ruin him. Even though England was at war on the continent, it refused to call on its most outstanding commander, forcing him to sit on the sidelines, fending off attacks from his political enemies. Yet his biographer, Winston Churchill would later observe, “Few features in Marlborough’s long life are more remarkable than the manner in which he steadily grew in weight and influence through the whole of the six years when he was banished from favour and office… Still he grew, and at the end of this lengthy period of eclipse was felt by everyone around the summit of affairs to be one of the greatest Englishmen of the day” (Winston S. Churchill,
Marlborough,
430-1). Churchill would go on to eventually command the British and allied forces in Europe for ten years, fighting powerful French armies, and never losing. For his storied accomplishments, he would be elevated to the Duke of Marlborough and would be widely regarded as one of the most brilliant military commanders in England’s history.

There is something potent and unique about the wilderness. People grow in the wilderness in ways they cannot while occupying center stage. Isolation and even opposition can mature our character in ways that praise and accolades never will. David spent years hiding from King Saul in the Judean wilderness. It might have appeared to be a colossal waste of talent for a young man who had been anointed to become king. Yet it was not time squandered. There he began to collect his mighty men and to establish himself as a brilliant leader. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness. It may have appeared like a promising career in the Egyptian court was being squandered in a desert. Yet it was there he learned to be the kind of shepherd God would use to guide His people. Even Jesus, at the outset of his ministry, spent 40 days in the wilderness. One might assume that after waiting until he was in his thirties before beginning His public ministry, that Jesus might have already been prepared to dramatically launch the Christian movement. Yet the Father chose to lead His Son into the wilderness immediately after His baptism (Mark 1:12-13).

To many, time in the wilderness can seem like a frustrating waste of time. We are trained to think that action and advance are signs of success. Sitting still and being overlooked for significant assignments is evidence of failure. Yet from God’s perspective, His greatest work may be what He does
in
us rather than merely what He accomplishes
through
us.
Waiting
on the Lord can often be far more difficult than
serving
the Lord. That is why He must at times take us into a wilderness so we can learn to properly trust and wait upon Him. We can learn much about God’s character and love for us in the wilderness that might have been difficult for us to grasp during periods of frenetic service on His behalf.

There will inevitably come times in your life where the pace slows, opposition mounts, advance grinds to a halt, and failure rears its ugly head. We may find ourselves in a parched, barren wilderness and wonder if God has forgotten us. The truth is, we may be exactly where God wants us to be. Use your wilderness experiences well!

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. Are you in a wilderness time in your life right now? If so, how do you think you have been handling it?
   

2. How difficult is it for you to wait on the Lord? Are you a person who wants to stay busy all the time? What could God teach you by making you remain still and wait for Him for answers?
   

3. Do you love God just as much when He leaves you in a wilderness as you love Him when He blesses you with activity and success? Do you view faithfulness as “success” or do you tend to only see promotions, pay raises, and accolades as “success”?
   

Richard T. Case

CEO, Benchmark Associates, Inc.

THE ECONOMIC CYCLE Research Institute of NYC has correctly predicted over the last 15 years each recessionary cycle with no false alarms. Contrary to political forecasting, the Institute is currently predicting that the U.S. is about to enter another recession cycle—with unemployment hitting double digits. Further, that the U.S. business cycle is becoming shorter—with more frequent recessions the norm. Our economy is in crisis and we have little hope of a sustained recovery returning any time soon. Are we ever going to get out of this mess?

For we who are children of God, being led by God, the answer is YES! In 2 Chronicles 14, we read of Asa, the King of Judah. Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord, his God—how? Asa removed the idols that dotted the land and led his people to seek the Lord God and to obey His commands. As a result Asa’s kingdom flourished. Everything seemed stable and secure. Then an enemy army of 1,000,000 came against Asa and his army of 580,000. Overwhelming! He faced an impossible situation that promised to devastate the kingdom. What was Asa’s response? Give up? Resign himself to failure? Develop a sophisticated strategic plan to fight and hope for the best? Compromise and seek an alliance with an ungodly nation to avoid defeat? No. Out of his personal relationship with God, Asa cried out, stating

• Lord, it is nothing for you to help!
  

• So, help us.
  

• We rest on You.
  

• In Your Name (in God’s authority and power), we go against this overwhelming enemy.
  

• You are our God!
  

• Do not let the overwhelming circumstances prevail against You!
  


Then, God answered and struck down the enemy as well as its allies. Rather than suffering a crushing defeat, Asa collected large amounts of booty. So the key questions for us are

1. Is God our God—do we have a vital personal relationship; and do we trust Him as God of all creation?
   

2. Have we removed the idols from our life (anything that is more important to us than God is)?
   

3. Are we willing to be obedient to His instructions (which implies we are hearing His instructions)?
   

4. Are we willing to cry out to God to seek His help, His wisdom, and His supernatural work that will lift us to victory when defeat seems probable?
   

We need not be afraid or resigned to the fact that, when these recessionary cycles strike our economy, our companies will inevitably suffer decline and failure. Rather, in the face of international crises, God can lead us to supernatural victory. God is not limited to current circumstances or likely economic cycles. It is nothing for Him to help us! Just ask.

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. God knows the future. How has He been preparing you for it?
   

2. Are you “resting” in God? If you are, what are you doing?
   

3. What is the most difficult challenge you are presently facing? How is God making a practical difference in your circumstance?
   

Jack Alexander

Vice Chairman and Partner; Rainmaker Group

HOW MANY TIMES in the last year has someone asked you

• What is going to happen in the economy?
  

• How long will it take for the market to recover?
  

• How many jobs will be lost?
  

Aren’t we all looking for a sign—an indicator that we can rely on? Jesus said

An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the Prophet.

MATTHEW 12:39 (NASB)

The obvious reference Jesus refers to is the “sign” of His resurrection to come. However, a further study of Jonah shows that God may have more to say to us through the “sign of Jonah.”

Obedience—Our Response to God’s Directive

The Ninevites were enemies of Israel. The idea of preaching a grace-based message of repentance was unacceptable to Jonah. God’s directives violated Jonah’s values and he refused to obey.

Application
—in difficulty, rather than merely measuring our losses, we need to “measure” our obedience to the living God.

Grace Versus Idols

In my favorite verse, Jonah 2:8, Jonah states “
those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs”
(NIV 1984).

Difficult times reveal our idols—what do we think and worry about? The idols do not love us or provide for us. By shaking and/or destroying these idols, God is telling us to look at Him, the giver of all good and perfect gifts.

Application
—Grace should be the lens through which we view life. “Forfeiting” grace carries a heavy price—we cannot give grace to others when we fail to see that everything we have is due to God’s grace and mercy.

Like Jonah, God can allow us to be “swallowed” up literally through our circumstances. However, it is just as devastating for us to have the “lens of grace” removed from our lives through idolatry. Our idols cover this lens and block us from seeing with spiritual eyes.