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Colin Smith: When money is given to secure a particular outcome, that's what a bribe is.

Colin Smith: Even wise people, God says, lose their ability to see clearly.

Steve Hiller: Welcome to Open the Bible Weekend with Pastor Colin Smith. I'm Steve Hiller. Glad you joined us today as we continue our series from the book of Deuteronomy. Colin, today we're looking at leadership.

Colin Smith: Yes, it's from thousands of years ago, the book of Deuteronomy, and it speaks powerfully to us today.

Colin Smith: Leadership at every level in Israel, that was judges and kings and priests and prophets. And God lays out what matters for each of these spheres of leadership.

Colin Smith: It's fascinating what God says in the Old Testament is actually mirrored in the new about leadership in the church. We're going to look from the Old Testament at principles that speak right into our world today about what it means to be a godly leader. What does a godly leader look like?

Colin Smith: We need godly leadership in the home. We need that in the church. We need that in this nation, and the book of Deuteronomy speaks clearly and powerfully to us in that regard today.

Steve Hiller: Well, let's take a look at that. Deuteronomy 16 is where we're at as we begin a message called, "Lead by Learning to Follow."

Steve Hiller: Here is Pastor Colin.

Colin Smith: Moses is speaking for the last time to God's people. They're on the verge of the promised land. And here's God's servant, and he's pleading with them to live and to walk in ways that will see the continued blessing of God upon his people.

Colin Smith: And we've been following what Moses says to them. He's been speaking about the dynamics of a godly life, that is, to fear the Lord and to love the Lord.

Colin Smith: Then he is laying out the structures of a godly life, applying it to the family, how it works out in terms of festivals, or particular times to release debts and so forth and so on.

Colin Smith: And as we're making our way through this book, I think you will have picked up in this series that Deuteronomy really follows the pattern of the Ten Commandments. So, if you have your Bible open now and look back over where we've been the last couple of weekends,

Colin Smith: in chapter 15, the year of canceling debts is really an application of the Fourth Commandment, that is the law relating to the Sabbath.

Colin Smith: And then last weekend, we looked at the festivals in chapter 16, and again that is an application of the Fourth Commandment. It's an application of the Sabbath to the rhythm of the year of God's people.

Colin Smith: Now, as we come to chapter 17, we're really moving to a new section of the book, and Moses is dealing clearly with the subject of leadership.

Colin Smith: And it seems right to view this as an application of the Fifth Commandment. It's following the same order, and it does this throughout the entire book.

Colin Smith: You remember the Fifth Commandment: "Honor your father and your mother."

Colin Smith: Now, your father and your mother are the first figures of authority in your life. And God says, "You are to honor them."

Colin Smith: And so now what we find in these chapters is Moses is beginning to apply and expound and explain the implications and applications of the Fifth Commandment, to honor your father and mother, to hold those who are placed in authority, in positions of authority in a position of honor.

Colin Smith: And so what we're looking at today is how Moses speaks about the offices of leadership, the requirements that God has for a godly leader, and then the calling that God has to his people to hold those who are appointed as leaders in honor.

Colin Smith: Now, it had originally been my intention to focus simply on the king in the passage that was read from chapter 17, but I've come to feel that what will be most useful for us today is to take the broader sweep of the teaching that Moses gives to us here with regards to leadership.

Colin Smith: I want to draw out very simply, first, four observations about leadership from the passage of scripture here. Secondly, to identify from the scriptures three particular temptations that all leaders face in every culture, in every century, and then to identify from the scriptures one priority for all leaders, and then finally to see how all this speaks to us about Jesus Christ.

Colin Smith: So I hope you have the Bible open in front of you. Let's begin with four observations about leadership.

Colin Smith: The first observation is simply this, that God gives leaders to his people.

Colin Smith: And we should thank God for this.

Colin Smith: Notice that there are four offices of leadership, beginning in chapter 16 and verse 18. First, there's the judge, then there's the king, then there's the priest, and fourthly, the prophet.

Colin Smith: First the judge, chapter 16 and verse 18.

Colin Smith: "Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town that the Lord is giving to you, and they shall judge the people fairly."

Colin Smith: Now, as I've been reflecting on this over these last days, I'm just struck again by the relevance of God's word to us.

Colin Smith: What happens every time a name comes up as a nominee for the Supreme Court?

Colin Smith: We go through all of this process, don't we, in which questions are being asked about what: "Does this person lean to the right, or does this person lean to the left? Does this person have a political partiality?"

Colin Smith: Questions about the leanings of our judges.

Colin Smith: They're all around us.

Colin Smith: And here we are in midterm elections. Have you been struck in this recession by the staggering amounts of money that are being spent on midterm elections?

Colin Smith: And it is reasonable to ask the question, "Where is this money coming from?" And what are the commitments that are being made in return for this money? These questions are all around us, are they not?

Colin Smith: Look at verse 19. "Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous."

Colin Smith: You see, God is speaking here about the corrupting power of money.

Colin Smith: When money is given to secure a particular outcome, that's what a bribe is.

Colin Smith: Even wise people, God says, lose their ability to see clearly. The money clouds their vision.

Colin Smith: And even righteous people, verse 19, God says, end up twisting their words.

Colin Smith: So, when God speaks about judges, this is obviously speaking to us, isn't it? It's immediately relevant.

Colin Smith: Second. Kings, chapter 17 and verse 14. "The king must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself."

Colin Smith: Verse 16.

Colin Smith: Now, you know that the horse in those days was the means of exercising military might, and if you were seeking to become aggressive towards other nations in a military way, you would acquire large numbers of horses.

Colin Smith: And so I simply need to ask the question, it's rhetorical, it needs no answer: Are there nations in the world today that are building military power and thereby threatening the stability of the world? Answer, obviously, yes.

Colin Smith: When God speaks about kings, the building of military muscle, he's speaking to us.

Colin Smith: Third, priests, chapter 18, verses 1 to 13.

Colin Smith: "The Lord, verse 5, has chosen them to stand and minister in the Lord's name always."

Colin Smith: Question: Do we have any issues in the world today that are related to abusive priests?

Colin Smith: Does that sound familiar?

Colin Smith: Men who were put in a position of trust, men who were called to minister in God's name and abused that trust and brought immense pain to vulnerable people.

Colin Smith: When God speaks about priests, he is speaking to us.

Colin Smith: And fourthly, the prophet, chapter 18, verses 14 to 22.

Colin Smith: God says, verse 18, "I will put my words in his mouth." That is the mark of the prophet. He speaks the word of God.

Colin Smith: But then verse 20, God speaks about a prophet who presumes to speak in my name, things that I have not commanded him to say.

Colin Smith: Do we have a problem today with people who are given the trust of a pulpit, and then use it to speak not the word of God, but simply to speak a message of their own creating?

Colin Smith: Absolutely, it is all around us. So when God speaks to prophets, he is speaking to us.

Colin Smith: So, folks, just to read this scripture and to connect with it, we live, do we not, in the world where too often we see the trouble caused by the biased judge, the abusive priest, the false prophet, and the tyrannical king.

Colin Smith: We live in a sinful and fallen world, and the failings that we see in our leaders are merely a reflection of what resides within us ourselves.

Colin Smith: So we need these words from God in every culture and in every generation.

Colin Smith: Now, seeing the connection, I want you to notice that these words of God are particularly given to God's people.

Colin Smith: Here are God's people. They're coming into the promised land. And now they're going to be surrounded by other nations.

Colin Smith: And the other nations will be loaded with biased judges and abusive priests and false prophets and tyrannical kings and people who despise the whole lot of them.

Colin Smith: But you see what God is saying. He's saying through Moses now, "Among you it is to be different." "Among my people, I am calling you to something that is different from the pattern that you see in the world."

Colin Smith: And so my first observation is that God gives leaders to his people.

Colin Smith: Here's the second observation. God distributes authority so that it never resides in one person alone.

Colin Smith: Very important observation from the teaching of the scripture, very important for the church today.

Colin Smith: God distributes authority so that it never resides in one person alone.

Colin Smith: Now, notice the wisdom of God. Why are these four different offices of leadership: the judge, the prophet, the priest, and the king? Why are these distinguished?

Colin Smith: Answer: All authority lies in God himself.

Colin Smith: It resides in him.

Colin Smith: But in this fallen world, when God gives authority by delegation to men, he spreads it out.

Colin Smith: And the reason that he spreads it out is that even the best leaders are sinners in the process of being redeemed.

Colin Smith: And so God never gives delegated authority as a whole to any one person.

Colin Smith: That is why it was very important in ancient Israel that no one person could hold all these four offices. The priest couldn't also be the king. The prophet couldn't also be the judge and so forth and so on.

Colin Smith: Because this is important, let me read to you a quotation from Christopher Wright, and he says this very perceptively. He says, "The clear distinction and separation of different kinds of authority can be seen as a significant precursor to some of the principles of democratic government, especially the separation of powers."

Colin Smith: "No single person could hold all four offices. None of the authorities is given supreme authority over the others."

Colin Smith: Now, that's a very important principle in a fallen world.

Colin Smith: And as we talk about the scriptures and seek to apply it, you may like to talk about how this works out in the church. What does it look like among the people of God?

Colin Smith: And although you can't draw, I think, strict defined kind of lines, let me just encourage you to think of it this way.

Colin Smith: When in the church there are cases of discipline, they come to who? The elders, for the elders in our church are called to act as judges. They are called to make judgments in situations of discipline. That's what they do.

Colin Smith: Then we have a church board that is given and trusted a kingly role.

Colin Smith: Then we have pastors who are given a prophetic role. They are to speak the word of God publicly and they are to speak it privately into the lives of God's people.

Colin Smith: If you're asking the question, well, now, who are the priests, the answer, of course, is all of God's people are the priests who stand and minister in the Lord's name always.

Colin Smith: Now, folks, this is a very important principle that we're looking at here. God distributes authority so that it never resides in one person.

Colin Smith: And I want to tell you with great thankfulness that that principle is wisely applied in the way that this church is governed.

Colin Smith: And if you're a discerning person, you will be profoundly thankful for it.

Steve Hiller: You're listening to Open the Bible Weekend with Pastor Colin Smith. And a message called, "Lead by Learning to Follow." It's part of our series on the study of the book of Deuteronomy called, "Take Two: The Power of a Fresh Start."

Steve Hiller: We're going to get back to this message in just a moment, so I hope you'll stay with us.

Steve Hiller: If you ever miss a broadcast, you can always come and listen online. Our website is openthebible.org. There you can stream the program or download an MP3 for free.

Steve Hiller: You can also listen if you have the Open the Bible app. You'll find that for free at your app store, and that's a great way to stay connected to Pastor Colin's teaching when you're on the go.

Steve Hiller: To listen on demand whenever it fits your schedule.

Steve Hiller: Another way to listen is to get a copy of this entire series on CD.

Steve Hiller: Ask about "Take Two: The Power of a Fresh Start" when you call us at 1-877-OPEN365.

Steve Hiller: That's 1-877-673-6365.

Steve Hiller: Or you'll find ordering information at openthebible.org.

Steve Hiller: Back to the message, here's Pastor Colin.

Colin Smith: Now, here's the third observation.

Colin Smith: God gives leaders to his church. Leadership never resides simply in one person. Always be concerned if you see that pattern in a local church.

Colin Smith: Thirdly, leaders are to be qualified in character and by ability.

Colin Smith: Notice what God says about the king particularly. "Be sure to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses," verse 15.

Colin Smith: Moses gives to us seven marks, no less than seven marks of a godly king. It's fascinating to me that all of them are reflected in the New Testament.

Colin Smith: You see, the Bible is one book. I want you to see the flow and the unity of it.

Colin Smith: So, for example, verse 15 of chapter 17, the king must be anointed by God. That flows into the New Testament, Acts 6:3, "Choose men who are full of the Holy Spirit."

Colin Smith: Second, the king must be from among God's people, verse 15, which flows into Acts chapter 6 and verse 3, "You're to choose from among you, from among the community of those who are bonded together in faith and in service."

Colin Smith: Number three, the king must exercise faith, verse 16. He is not to be a man who puts his trust in horses.

Colin Smith: So Acts chapter 6 and verse 5, they choose Stephen, who is a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.

Colin Smith: Number four, the king must be loyal. He is not to be a man with many wives, verse 17.

Colin Smith: So that flows into 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 2. "The elder must be the husband of but one wife." It's the same principle, you see.

Colin Smith: Number five, the king must not be greedy. He must not, verse 17, accumulate large amounts of gold or silver.

Colin Smith: Which in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 3 becomes, "The elder must not be a lover of money."

Colin Smith: Number six, the king must be a student of scripture. He is to read the law of God all the days of his life, verse 19.

Colin Smith: Which comes over into 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 9 by saying, "The deacon is to hold the deep truths of the faith. Hold the deep truths of the faith and to hold them with a clear conscience."

Colin Smith: And number seven, the king is not to consider himself better than his brothers, verse 20.

Colin Smith: Which comes over into 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 3. "Elders are to serve, not lording it over the flock, but being examples to them."

Colin Smith: You see the wonderful unity of this.

Colin Smith: There's a certain character that God is looking for among those who are to be trusted with great responsibility in his church.

Colin Smith: Whatever that be in the world.

Colin Smith: Whatever century you live in, whether it's Old Testament or New Testament, the character that God is looking for never changes.

Colin Smith: And so discerning members of a congregation must learn to recognize and discriminate where it exists, where it does not.

Colin Smith: Fourth observation. God's people are to hold their leaders in honor.

Colin Smith: Look at chapter 17 and verse 12. God's calling his people to be different from the world where there's all this abuse that goes on and and all this

Colin Smith: despising and hatred that comes as a result of it, and God is saying now, "Here's the kind of leader that is to be chosen and is to be trusted among my people."

Colin Smith: And then he says this, verse chapter 17 and verse 12, "The man who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the Lord your God,"

Colin Smith: You see what happens to him? Do you know what happens to him?

Colin Smith: "He must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel."

Colin Smith: Now, folks, relax. We do not in the church put to death people who show contempt, that's the word, for spiritual leaders.

Colin Smith: But there may be times when it is necessary to put such a person out of the church.

Colin Smith: That church discipline is the New Testament equivalent of what is being said here with regards to the Old Testament scriptures.

Colin Smith: This is why the scripture says in the New Testament, you see, "Warn a divisive person once."

Colin Smith: "Then warn him a second time."

Colin Smith: "And after that, warn him a third time?" No. "Have nothing more to do with him."

Colin Smith: "Have nothing more to do with him."

Colin Smith: That's why in the scriptures, you see, in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, the apostle says, "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you and are over you in the Lord." "Hold them in the highest regard in love." That's God's word to us.

Colin Smith: "Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work, and live at peace with one another."

Colin Smith: So, God's people, we're being told here, are to appoint leaders who are worthy of honor, and they are to give to these leaders the honor that is due.

Colin Smith: So, this is very practical teaching, isn't it, for us and for all of God's people, any place in the world in any generation.

Colin Smith: Four observations about leadership. Number one, God gives leaders to his people. Thank God for that. We'd be in chaos without it. Second, God distributes authority so that it never resides in one person alone. Third, leaders are to be qualified by character and by ability. And fourth, God's people are to hold their leaders in honor.

Colin Smith: That is what God is saying to his people as an application of the Fifth Commandment, which is, "Honor your father and your mother."

Colin Smith: How we handle authority is a matter on which God speaks to us.

Steve Hiller: Pastor Colin Smith here on Open the Bible Weekend, really taking a look at these observations about leadership.

Steve Hiller: And next time, we're going to look at three temptations that all leaders face, the big three. You probably guessed them already: money, sex, and power.

Steve Hiller: But if those are the big three, the question then is, what's the one priority for all leaders to pursue?

Steve Hiller: We're going to take a look at that on our next broadcast. So I hope you make it a point to tune in.

Steve Hiller: If you ever miss a program, come and listen online. Our website is openthebible.org. You can stream the program or download an MP3 for free.

Steve Hiller: Again, that's at openthebible.org. You can also listen through the Open the Bible app, which you'll find at your app store, and that's a great way to listen to Pastor Colin's teaching when you're on the go.

Steve Hiller: Well, Open the Bible is a listener-supported ministry. It is your generosity that allows us to bring you Pastor Colin's teaching, whether you listen on the radio, online, or through the app. And as you give a gift of any amount this month, we want to say thank you by sending you a copy of Brad Weatherall's new book called, "Saved to Sin No More."

Steve Hiller: And Colin, what's one thing that you'd like people to take away from this book?

Colin Smith: Well, I think the number one thing is encouragement in the Christian life. You know, I think a lot of folks have the idea, Steve, that to be a Christian is basically to commit to a disciplined pursuit of a good and a moral life.

Colin Smith: And it's so much more, and that's the heart of what's in this book, speaking about union with Christ.

Colin Smith: You know, I was just talking to someone who's past the age of 70 this week, and he told me that for 35 years he had regarded himself as being a Christian, and everyone else would have regarded him as a Christian too.

Colin Smith: He said, "But it was only in the last five years that he really came to understand a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ." He said, "I had religion for 35 years. I've only had a relationship with Jesus for five." And there's all the difference in the world.

Colin Smith: And the first thing he said, when I said, "Well, tell me about the difference." He said, "Well, I've begun to experience victory over sin," and then he spoke about peace, and he spoke about joy, and he spoke about hope.

Colin Smith: Now, you know, it's simply not possible to gain victory over our besetting sins if all we've got is our best effort to live a good life and to overcome the things that plague us.

Colin Smith: What makes it possible to really make progress in the Christian life is that Jesus Christ himself lives in the life of a believer by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Colin Smith: That makes a whole new life possible, and this book really gives an introduction to the central, though sadly, I think little understood truth of the Christian life. Christ in you, that's the hope of living a new and a transformed life. It's a wonderful book, and I think it'll be a great encouragement to all who read it.

Steve Hiller: Again, the name of the book is, "Saved to Sin No More: How Union with Christ Empowers a Life of Holiness."

Steve Hiller: And we want to send you a copy as our way of saying thank you for your financial support this month.

Steve Hiller: You can give your gift online at openthebible.org, or when you call 1-877-OPEN365.

Steve Hiller: That's 1-877-673-6365.

Steve Hiller: Or again, our website is openthebible.org.

Steve Hiller: For Pastor Colin Smith, I'm Steve Hiller. Thanks for listening, and I hope you'll join us next time.

Steve Hiller: Open the Bible Weekend is a listener-supported production of Open the Bible.

Colin Smith: At Open the Bible, we're grateful for like-minded organizations committed to sharing the gospel around the world.

Colin Smith: And to that end, I'd like to commend the work of Global Fingerprints.

Colin Smith: You know, in the book of James, God calls us to help orphans in their distress.

Colin Smith: That's a clear command, but it's not always clear how we should obey it.

Colin Smith: And this is where Global Fingerprints comes in.

Colin Smith: Through Global Fingerprints, you can sponsor a vulnerable child to help meet their physical needs and ensure they hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Colin Smith: I want to commend Global Fingerprints to you. They're focused on equipping the local church to care for children.

Colin Smith: And where there is no church, they help to plant one.

Colin Smith: If you'd like to help a vulnerable child, you can find more information on Global Fingerprints at our website openthebible.org/gf. That's openthebible.org/gf.