The Ghosts of Leadership Past - Part 1

The disciples had never followed anyone like Jesus before.

"Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Matthew 6:11-13 KJV

Why the phrase 'lead us not into temptation'... maybe because they have been led by other voices into places of temptation. Jesus is not like that.

God is not like the other voices. Grace provides good leadership but not like the leadership we have had before by those who did not know grace.

"And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the LORD. In those days they shall no longer say: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. 'Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.' " Jeremiah 31:28-33 ESV

This new covenant is a covenant where the Spirit of Grace seals the believer and makes a permanent home in a person.

"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:11-13 ESV

Earthly fathers mean well but grace does well. Leaders have a goal or intention that is meant for someones good. Grace glorifies God who Is good.

Grace ignites the new nature to be free to function. We are under new leadership and yet there are old lines formed by the old. Our teeth were 'set on edge' by the sour grapes of the past.

God knows. God knows. What we see and hear of Him will convince us of a new way. A way that build up and enlightens our eyes.