Healthy alliances allow leaders to multiply their time and expand their influence beyond what they could accomplish on their own. Read Luke 8:38-39.

Jesus healed a man who had been possessed by a demon for years. Prior to his healing, the demon distorted the man’s mind until he withdrew from society, lived naked in a graveyard among the tombs and was often arrested for unspecified crimes. He was a total outcast who had no friends, no support system and no hope. When Jesus commanded the demons to leave the man, his life was radically altered. The first report of the man after his healing was “…they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind” (V. 35).

Effective leaders select specific team members very carefully and for specific reasons. Read Mark 2:14-17.

It could be argued that Jesus formed the most effective team in human history. He chose 12 individuals that He dedicated three years of His life to mentor. These 12 individuals, after only a few years with Jesus, took His message to the known world and even now, 2,000 years later, Christianity is still changing individuals and changing the world.

A servant-leader’s rights will decrease as their responsibilities increase. Matthew 20:25-28.

In his notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible, John Maxwell discusses something he calls the “leadership pyramid.”

Every leader needs someone who will give them wise counsel rather than a rebuke even when they need to vent. Read Matthew 11:1-6.

John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, had been imprisoned by King Herod for publicly holding him accountable for a moral failure. Prison stripped John’s inner circle of support from him and left him emotionally empty. John had a firm grip on his personal identity and mission; he knew he was called to prepare the people for Jesus’ message, but in a moment of weakness questioned Jesus’ identity. He sent his disciples to present his question to Jesus. Instead of reprimanding John for having doubts, Jesus provided the prophet with the information he needed to be strengthened and have his faith renewed.

Wise Christian leaders seek to develop healthy God-honoring alliances. Read Jeremiah 2:17-22.

Babylon was the dominating world military power. They had expansion of their borders in mind and the nation of Judah was one of their military targets. Judah did not have the military might to stand against Babylon. God’s command to Judah in the past had been to stand and allow Him to defend them. This would require great faith and dependence on the all present but invisible God when there was a real physical enemy standing at the ready to attack. Israel’s leaders chose to form alliances with nations that had proven to be God’s enemies and ignore their alliance with God. Jeremiah’s word in verse 19 condemning their choice of alliances must have stung Judah’s leaders deeply.