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"Let them do so with joy and not with grief..."

Text: Hebrews 13:17

LEADERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED GRIEF

Many are the leaders who have experienced grief while leading (“ruling”) God’s people!

1. Moses

a) He expressed great grief in leading the children of Israel.

b) The rebellious nation constantly complained against him.

c) Moses felt great despair at one time (Cf. Numbers 11:11-15).

2. Jeremiah

a) He too was nearly overwhelmed in ministry.

b) He met so much opposition he even doubted God’s leading (Cf. Jeremiah 15:10-18).

3. Paul

a) He was exasperated with the Corinthian Church.

b) He devoted a long epistle to address the Corinthians (Cf. 1 Corinthians).

i) The members questioned their founding father’s spiritual credentials.

ii) They queried his teachings.

iii) They were more inclined to believe false teachers rather than Paul.

c) Nevertheless Paul did what he had been entrusted to do.

i) He sought to fulfill the tasks that God had assigned to him.

ii) Though he served with grief, he served faithfully.

CHOOSING JOY OVER GRIEF

There were two straightforward choices:-

1. Choosing obedience and submission to spiritual leaders would lead to joy.

2. Choosing resistance and disobedience to spiritual leaders would lead to grief.

The choice should be very clear to the discerning and humble disciple!