The Law of Connection: God’s Covenant, God’s Rules

 

Exodus 19:3–13

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Have you ever noticed how God introduced the Ten Commandments? Before He spoke His laws to the people in Exodus 20, He took time to remind them of three vital truths:

 

1. The love He had for them

2. The victories He’d won for them

3. The future He planned for them

 

God spoke about how He intended to bless Israel as His children, and He warned them of the boundaries to keep—how to survive His fiery presence on Mount Sinai. Only then did He give them His commandments to obey. Do you see the genius of the sequence?

Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand. Before God demanded His people keep His rules, He reminded them of His relationship and blessings. That gave them all the incentive they needed to follow through on their commitment!

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The Law of Intuition: Jesus’ Diagnosis and Prescription

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Matthew 9:35–38

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The Ultimate Leader teaches us about the divine order of capturing and casting a vision. Leaders often err by flitting from vision to vision. Why? Because they fail to take the time to become burdened over a need. Burden always comes first; then vision. Consider the order we see in Jesus’ leadership:

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1. He sought a need:

   • As Jesus traveled the villages, He saw their needs (vv. 35, 36).

2. He bought a burden:

   • He diagnosed the problem: “I need more workers” (v. 37).

3. He caught a vision:

   • He gave a prescription for the burden (v. 38).

 

Leaders remain relevant only as they meet real needs. Consequently, we must pause long enough to observe needs, then feel the tug of a burden. Finally, we must catch a vision that will address the burden.

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Vision: The Process Toward Fulfilling a God-Given Vision

 

Matthew 9:35–10:5

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Jesus teaches us the process of fulfilling a God-given vision. Study this passage and watch for these steps:

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1. Take initiative to obey. Get active in service.

   • ​“Jesus went about all the cities and villages . . .” (9:35).

2. Communicate the truth you have already.

   • ​“ . . . teaching in their synagogues [and] preaching the gospel of the kingdom” (9:35).

3. Observe and understand the reality of human conditions.

   • ​“But when He saw the multitudes . . .” (9:36).

4. Allow God to burden you with a specific need.

   • ​“He was moved with compassion for them, because they were . . . like sheep having no shepherd” (9:36).

5. See a divine diagnosis. What is the issue to be resolved?

   • ​“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (9:37).

6. Pray to determine what action could meet that need.

   • “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (9:38).

7. Choose a team and empower them for partnership.

   • ​“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power . . .” (10:1).

8. Take immediate action toward the fulfillment of the vision.

   • ​“These twelve Jesus sent out . . .” (10:5).

 

The Law of Empowerment: Jesus Gave Power Away . . . and Multiplied His Influence

 

Matthew 10:1–15

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Effective leadership attracts and brokers the talents of others. Leaders must develop others to reach their potential. No one did this better than Jesus.

 

In Matthew 10 we see the results of Jesus’ vision for more workers (9:37, 38). Even though He has not finished training His disciples, He sends them out to exercise their gifts.

So it is with our people. At some point we need to end the lecture and send them out to try what they have learned. Consider how Jesus empowered His twelve-man staff:

 

1. A personal call (vv. 1–4)  

   • ​Jesus selected them and called them by name.

2. A direct commission (v. 5)

   • ​After instructing them, He sent them out.

3. A central objective (vv. 5, 6)

   • He told them to go to the Hebrews, not the Gentiles.

4. A clear message (v. 7)

   • ​He gave them the specific message.

5. Practical credentials (v. 8)

   • ​He equipped them to gain credibility by giving them tools to confirm their message.

6. Confidence for provision (vv. 9, 10)

   • ​He instilled confidence and gave them a plan to acquire needed resources.

7. Solid convictions (vv. 11–15)

   • ​He furnished convictions on how they were to act with both friends and critics.

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