2.  Examples of Negative Leadership.

a.  Adam.  “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin…” (Romans 5:12).  This man in context is Adam (Romans 5:14).  Furthermore we are told, “Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression” (1 Timothy 2:14).  Adam was not deceived by the serpent.  However, there is no record of him speaking up to try to help Eve not be deceived.  In fact, he followed her into sin (Genesis 3:4-6).  He was with her.  He knew better.  Yet, he did not try to prevent sin. 

Are we speaking up?  Are we trying to prevent sin in our homes?  Are we holding fast to God’s word regardless of what others, even in our own homes, do?

b.  Jezebel.  Ahab “took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, King of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.  The he set up an altar for Baal, which he had built in Samaria” (1 Kings 16:31-32).  Again, “But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up” (1 Kings 21:25).  She led him into Baal worship.  She stirred him up to do wickedness. 

How are we motivating and influencing others in our homes?  Are we stirring up love and good works? (Hebrews 10:24).  Are we stirring up wickedness? (1 Kings 21:25).

c.  Athaliah.  “Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became King… His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.  He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother advised him to do wickedly.  Therefore, he did evil in the sight of the LORD, like the house of Ahab; for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction (2 Chronicles 22:2-4).  This is the daughter of Ahab (2 Chronicles 21:5-6).  Like Jezebel, she had a bad influence in her home.  She advised her son to do wickedly!

What advice are we providing to our children?  Are we advising them to walk in the way of the LORD?  Are we advising things which are contrary to God’s will?  What influence are we having on our children? 

d.  The Rich Man.  “I beg you therefore, father, that you send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them lest they also come to this place of torment” (Luke 16:27-28).  He wanted Lazarus sent back to warn his brothers.  Could it be that the Rich Man was concerned for his brothers because they were walking in his steps, following his example?  The text does not say this.  However, many siblings have influence on one another.

What influence are we having on our siblings?  If they follow us, where would they end up? 

e.  Ananias and Sapphira.  “Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?’” (Acts 5:9).  They agreed together to lie.

Are we helping or hindering our families in their spiritual walk?  This is a sobering question.  Consider how many of these examples from the family relationships.

f.  Peter.  “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, we would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.  And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy” (Galatian 2:11-12).  Peter, on this occasion, set a bad example that influence others.  Peter was not anti-Gentile (Acts 10-11; 15:6-11).  He had eaten with them, before others came to Antioch (Acts 11:1-3; Galatians 2:12-13).  He gave into peer pressure.  To his credit, he evidently took Paul’s correction well, later referring to Paul as “our beloved Paul” (2 Peter 3:15).

What example are we setting to others in the church?  Do we courageously do the right thing?  Do we succumb to peer pressure? 

g.  Diotrophes.  John writing to Gaius said, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.  He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God” (3 John 11).  These words occur within a context which contrasts two men.  (1) Diotrophes “loves to have the pre-eminence” in the church (3 John 9).  He is also a church bully (3 John 9-10).  (2) Demetrius is of different character.  John said of him, “Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself.  And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true” (3 John 12).  It is in this context John said, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good” (3 John 11).  We can learn from this that there may be in the church, even in a local church, both good and bad examples.  The wise are discerning.  They are not intimidated.  They imitate what is good.

What about us?  Are we good examples?  Are we bad examples?

Which are we following?  Are we following good examples?  Are we following bad examples?  Do we know the difference?  Do we allow God’s truth to determine which is which?