(SHARP): NAU 1 Timothy 6:13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

Point of View: God will cause the evil intentions of wicked leaders against you to turn into a good work.  NAU Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 

Action Step: We must follow the Biblical admonition to allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide during times of trial and testing.

Benefit: NAU Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

Key Point 1: Lessons from Jesus, Son of God and God the Son!

Subpoint 1.1: First, do not worry about the trial beforehand as the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say when you need to say it.  NAU Luke 12:11 "When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."  (cf. Mark 13:11b, ; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.)

NAU John 18:19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.  21 "Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said."  22 When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, "Is that the way You answer the high priest?"  23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?"  24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Subpoint 1.2: Second, keep your big mouth shut unless the Holy Spirit gives you something to say.

NAU Mark 15:1 Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.  2 Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him, "It is as you say."  3 The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.  4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!"  5 But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

NAU John 18:33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?"  35 Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?"  36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."  37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."  38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.

Subpoint 1.3: Third, realize the wicked leader that will “crucify” you could not do so without God’s permission.

NAU John 19:7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God." 8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid;  9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.  10 So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?"  11 Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

Key Point 2: Lessons from David, the man chasing after God’s heart!

Subpoint 2.1: First, place your trust in God, believing that He is utterly in control no matter what the circumstances.  David was so confident that God was in control of this situation that he could trust God with his reputation and future. When he had the opportunity to kill the King, he didn't take it.  He knew God was in control and had a different plan.

Subpoint 2.2: Second, don't believe that you can't accomplish meaningful ministry under a wicked leader. David was living proof that you can accomplish much under a jealous, insecure, and demon driven leader.

Subpoint 2.3: Third, find your niche, excel, and stay connected to the team as a whole.  Don't give in to the temptation to withdraw and do your own thing.  Do your very best and give your ministry your all, but don't buy into the trap that says, "Just stay in your little area, do your thing, and let others deal with the mess."  That only promotes the problem.  Those near you will sense your withdrawal and though you may never say a word, they will sense your distance and lack of team interaction.  Do your thing, and do it well, but stay connected to the big picture and the team as a whole. 

Subpoint 2.4: Fourth, be prepared that success may bring you difficulty. "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." (I Samuel 18:7) As David returned to town after killing Goliath he was honored and praised.  He had come from a peasant background in Bethlehem, as a shepherd boy, and the youngest of seven brothers to become the hero of the day.  I Samuel 18:8-9 reads: "Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him: 'They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed only thousands.'  Now what more can he have but the kingdom? And Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on."  The situation gets worse. Read what I Samuel 18:12-14 reveals: "Now Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.  Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him."  King Saul was jealous of David. He likely gave this military assignment to David because he was hopeful that David would be killed in battle.  But David acted as an honorable and successful soldier, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.  It doesn't always work well, and fairness went out the window long ago. But like David, do the right thing anyway.

Key Point 3: Biblical guidance for confronting wicked leaders

Subpoint 3.1: First, go to them showing unconditional submission and conditional obedience (obedience up to but not beyond the point of sin).  NAU Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.

Understand that it is not your job to fix your leader.  If he or she needs to change, that's between them and God.  The Lord may use you to influence your leader and you may be a valuable instrument of change in your leader's life.  However, that is extremely different than spearheading an effort to force them to change because you think that someone must do something.  I promise you, taking on your leader will not result in the good of the church.  If the Lord directs you to say something to your leader, (staff or member) then say it in private.  If he or she chooses not to accept what you have to say, drop it. (Obviously, if it is a Biblical issue such as immorality or heresy, that is a different scenario. But even then, it is not likely to be your job to take matters into your own hands.)

Subpoint 3.2: Second, for acts of immorality or heresy take it before the church. NAU Matthew 18:17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  NAU 1 Timothy 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.  The word “accusation” in the Greek means “a formal accusation before a tribunal.”

NAU Galatians 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.  13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.  14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

Subpoint 3.3: Third, if it's time to leave, then leave, but do it in a way that honors your leader. If it is not an issue of immorality or heresy and after you have spoken the truth in love privately (following the example set in Matthew 18, perhaps taken another with you) you still get nowhere and the issue at hand is just unacceptable to you then you leave.  Don't stay and split the church.  Don't make a big fuss on the way out.  Don't say things you will regret.  Don't do anything that will hurt the church in the long run.  Take the high road even if you have been wronged.  This is the example that Jesus set for us.

Repeat Point of View and Action Step

Benefit: Finally, God will bless you if you honor Him and His Word.  God blessed David for obeying Saul. "So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants." (I Samuel 18:5) David's obedience got him a promotion, gave him favor with the people, and won the respect of those he led.  God does not promise this kind of blessing to all, but He will not overlook your obedience, particularly to Himself.  God's economy is different than that of the world.  The world gets even, we turn the other cheek.  The world is out for glory, while we serve without recognition.  I'm not suggesting that you or any other leader become a doormat.  That is contrary to the essence of leadership.  I only want to encourage you to take the high road even when life presents you with difficult challenges.  Oh yeah, God blessed Jesus, too!