Outline: A Godly Leader Deal with Frustration Biblically

Note: This is the seventh installment in our series on biblical leadership.

 

A Godly Leader Deal with Frustration Biblically

Selected Verse

Establish the need: How do you handle frustration?

 

Purpose: Today we shall three points so that we would deal with frustrations biblically both a Christian and foundation to be a godly leader.

• The importance of dealing frustrations biblically
• The examples of dealing with frustrations biblically
• How to cultivate dealing with frustrations biblically

 

The importance of dealing frustrations biblically

Even if you are not a leader it is important to deal with frustrations biblically

1. Believers must not act out with deeds of the flesh: “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
   1. When we act out in frustration we can sin.
   2. Frustrations can be motivated by sins and manifest sins on this list:
      1. “hostilities” (20)
      2. “strife” (20)
      3. “jealousy” (20)
      4. “outbursts of anger” (20)
      5. “selfish ambition” (20)
      6. “dissensions” (20)
      7. “factions” (20)
      8. “envy” (21)
      9. “drunkenness” (21)
   3. Therefore we need to deal with frustrations biblically even if you are not a leader!
2. Believers are called to be gentle and compassionate: “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)
   1. Notice the virtue of gentleness and compassion mentioned in this passage.
   2. When we are dwelling in frustration it is had to be gentle and compassionate.

Why is it important for leaders? (3 Reasons)

1. Reason 1: Leaders who act out in frustration often lord over people and God’s Word says dominating over others is not good:
   1. “shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:2-3)
      1. This is addressing church leaders.
      2. Leaders are told here not to be “domineering over those assigned to your care” (1 Peter 5:3)
      3. Thus in area of spiritual leadership in the church one should not be domineering.
   2. “And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles domineer over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 But it is not this way for you; rather, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.” (Luke 22:25-26)
      1. Jesus here is talking about Gentile leaders: “kings of the Gentiles” (Luke 22:25a)
      2. Jesus here is contrasting the way unbelievers rule with how Christians are to be leaders: “But it is not this way for you” (Luke 22:26a)
      3. How then are Christian leaders supposed to be like?
         1. Humility (youngest): “he one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest” (Luke 22:26b)
         2. Servants of others: “and the leader like the servant” (Luke 22:26c)
2. Reason 2: Leaders are to be good examples and acting out in frustration sets a bad example
   1. Christian leaders are to be examples: “3 nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:3)
      1. This is addressing church leaders.
      2. Leaders are told here not to be “to be examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:3b)
      3. Notice this is the opposite of dominating others.
   2. It is hard to see people act out in an imprudent way out of frustration. If leaders don’t like to see that among those he or she is leading then the leader must not set the precedence.
3. Reason 3: It undermine leadership
   1. The very definition of a leader from session one in our series established that a leader is one who influence people to do what is required.
   2. If you are acting out in frustration you will lose your ability to influence positively, which is what leadership is.

 

The examples of dealing with frustrations biblically

Negative example: Moses

1. “and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank.” (Numbers 20:10-11)
   1. Earlier the people of course was frustrating for Moses to deal with: The people were arguing with and complaining to Moses in Numbers 20:3-5.
   2. God in Numbers 20:8 tells Moses to speak to the rock to get water to provide water for the people.
   3. Here we see in Numbers 20:11 Moses disobeyed and struck the rock.
   4. Moses didn’t strike it once but twice.
2. “because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. 52 For you will see the land at a distance but you will not go there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.”” (Deuteronomy 32:51–52)
   1. Here God refer back to the event in Numbers 20:10-11.
   2. God tells us there will be consequences for Moses sin and that means he will not enter into the promise land.
   3. This episode shows that leaders acting out in frustration sinfully will lead to negative consequences.

Positive example: Paul

1. Paul was a leader of believers and an Apostle; see the salutation in both his epistles to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 1:1.
2. Yet the Church in Corinth has many problems
   1. There were many sins within the church.
   2. On top of that there were false Apostles/false teachers: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:13)
   3. These false teachers were undermining Paul with criticizing him. What were they saying about Paul?[1] We see hints: “For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” (2 Corinthians 10:10) including:
      1. He was physically unimpressive: Galatians 4:14 describe him as being physically afflicted so that didn’t add to his physical appearance.[2]
      2. He probably wasn’t rhetorically charismatic in his speech.
   4. These situations are very frustrating and some of the criticism against him are not legitimate!
3. Frustrating as it is Paul did not want to dominate the Corinthians’ believers
   1. “What do you desire? That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Corinthians 4:21)
      1. Paul ask the believer rhetorically a question with two options of what they want.
      2. One option involves force: “That I come to you with a rod”
      3. Second option involves love and not domination: “or with love and a spirit of gentleness”
      4. Here Paul shows awareness as a Christian leader the need not to dominate others but to motivate them properly to do things out of love.
   2. “Not that we domineer over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.” (2 Corinthians 1:24)
      1. Here Paul expresses that he does not wish to dominate over the belives in Corinth.
      2. Notice the believers’ joy in Christ matters!

 

 

How to cultivate dealing with frustrations biblically

1. Don’t be quick to brag about yourself
   1. Example of Paul: “We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.” (2 Corinthians 5:12)
   2. Paul saw himself as the least, instead of someone that is worth bragging about himself: “For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10)
2. Realize you need to depend on God!
   1. “Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,” (2 Corinthians 3:5)
      1. We are not adequate by ourselves
      2. Instead if we are to be adequate for our task it is from God that we are adequate.
   2. “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
      1. Jesus here is saying that by ourselves we are branches.
      2. Of course the strength of a branch comes from being connected to the vine, which here is identified as Jesus.
      3. Thus we need to depend on Christ!
   3. Our strength comes from Christ:: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
   4. Paul identified that his ability to labor more than the other Apostles (Church leaders) is because of God’s grace! “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)
3. Pray: “We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; (1 Thessalonians 1:2)
   1. In the context this is Paul the Apostle writing to one of the churches.
   2. As a leader notice Paul says he prays for the church in Thessalonica.
   3. This prayer including thanking God for those whom he leads.
   4. Don’t underestimate the power of an attitude of thanksgiving as an antidote for feelings of frustrations.
4. Realize we are jars of clay: “But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;” (2 Corinthians 4:7)
   1. To the church that was frustrating for Paul notice he tells them that he considers himself a “in earthen containers,” that is, jars of clay.
   2. Jars of Clay are common. So knowing that should humble us.[3]
   3. Jars of Clay are weak. Therefore we should put our frustration in perspective that we will have weaknesses.
5. Press forward
   1. Keep on doing good! “Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.” (Galatians 6:9)
      1. The exhortation: “Let’s not become discouraged in doing good’
      2. The reason: “for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary”
      3. Sometimes as a leader you don’t see the result right away but keep doing what is right.
   2. Press towards the goal: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)
      1. A leader’s goal isn’t just a business objective; ultimately all that we do is the calling of the prize of God!
      2. So as frustrated as you are don’t forget the goal of glorifying and enjoying God!

 

 

[1] John MacArthur, Paul in Chains: Leadership in Action (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 105.

[2] John MacArthur, Paul in Chains: Leadership in Action (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 106.

[3] John MacArthur, Paul in Chains: Leadership in Action (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 113.

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