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City Light Church Las Vegas | Jabin Chavez
Decisions Determine Your Future | Jabin Chavez Leadership Podcast
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Decisions Determine Your Future | Jabin Chavez Le…
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What's going on? Leader? Do you ever feel like you are dealing with decision fatigue? Oh, my gosh, it is crazy how many decisions we have to make. I feel like our job description should be cdo, Chief Decision Officer. Well, today I want to help you with your decisions. I want to help you make fun of the right decisions for your organization in the right here and now, and more importantly, for your future. So I really do believe this week's podcast is going to help you. I want to look at a passage of scripture in Acts chapter 6 where the apostles are having to make decisions. And the scripture says this. This is Acts chapter 6:1 through 7. In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Jews among them complained about the Hebraic Jews. So there's the Hellenistic Jews, excuse me. And the Hebraic Jews, because of their widows, were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So there's. So there's tension here. There's issues here. There's race stuff happening. There's background stuff happening. There's ethnicity things happening. There's a lot going on. And the 12 gathered all the disciples together and they said it would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. I want you to notice that right off the bat, their focus is on them as a leader and on their role. There's something massive that needs to happen. There's decisions that need to be made, but they immediately start with themselves. That's such a huge fear thing when you're making decisions. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them, and we will give our attention to the prayer and the ministry of the Word. Okay, I want to just look at verse seven real quick. So the word of God spread, and the numbers of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Notice that because of their decisions, because they chose the right thing and made the best decision, what happens? Ministry was able to happen. Ministry was able to flow. So this is just so key what I'm talking about. And so if we are going to make great decisions, if we're going to make better decisions, the reality is you have to make decisions. You're making a lot of decisions, and that's not going away. So what we're trying to do is we're trying to make better decisions. We're trying to make great decisions, and we're trying to make way Less poor decisions. So great, great decisions, number one, require self awareness. They hear all of these issues, all of this is going on, they're widows, there's racial things, there's demographic things, there's food issues. I mean, this is a big deal. And they stop. And their first question I'm talking about self awareness is they go, well, what's the best thing we could be doing? Excuse me? We're going to help them, we're going to make sure they get fed. But that's actually not most important. The most important thing is not always the most urgent thing. See, just because it's somebody's emergency doesn't mean it's your emergency. And just because. Now listen here. Just because there is a real emergency, it does not mean that that is the most urgent decision for you to make. Leader, you got to hear me when I say this, okay? It's real and it's an emergency, but it doesn't mean it's your emergency and it doesn't mean it has to be urgent for you. So you have to stop and go, okay, wait a minute. What's best for us first? That's not in a selfish way. That's what is the best thing we could be doing for the organization. Thank you. That's where this starts. That's where this starts. Every decision should come from if I'm in the right place as the leader, if I'm healthy as the leader, if I'm obeying the Holy Spirit as the leader, if I'm in tune with the Holy Spirit, as all of this matters, if all of that's happening, okay, now what's the best decision? So it actually starts with you. This is such a massive part of decision making because they're going to have to make decisions. So such a big part of decision making is what's your schedule, what's your rhythm, what's your relationship with your spouse, what are you doing? That's where so much of this starts. Or you are going to be, you're to going, you are going to be rushed to make decisions based off of somebody else's timetable and calendar and urgency. Now it's 10 o'. Clock. Pastor, I need to talk to you right now. Are you sure? You know, we got to make a decision today. Are you sure? Wait a minute. What. What would be okay? I know I need to feed them and I know we've got some drama happening in the church. What is best for us, what is right for us, that's where it starts. And I think this is such a massive Part of your decision making. So they were able to define through self awareness who they were and what they were ultimately called to. We are apostles, so we're called to prayer and to teaching and to vision and to decision making. But it actually goes back to. It goes back to prayer and fasting in the Word. And if I'm doing that, and in my case at my church, you know, there's certain things only you can do. That's where it starts. That's where you begin from. And then you begin to make decisions. You know, I love in John, chapter one, when the people come to John and they say, who are you? You know, are you the, are you the Christ? Are you the Messiah? Are you Elijah? Are you a prophet? Are you this? Are you that? You know? And John starts with, I'm not the Messiah. He then says, I'm not Elijah. He then says, I'm not a prophet. He says, but, but I am a voice. And so John knew who he wasn't. Knew who he was. I just think it's so important while you're making decisions, who are you? Who are you in the organization? What is, what is the, the most important thing your organization needs from you? Are you doing that? Okay, once you're doing that, now you can start making decisions. So self awareness is where all decisions start. Number two, you have to have a listening ear. So the people complain and it got to the apostles. This is important. Pastor, you do need to have your ear to the, to the ministry. You got to know what's going on. You've got to be not only self aware, but organizationally aware. You know, don't bother the pastor with that. Well, no, they were, the complaint was able to get to the pastor. I'm telling you, I'm always learning stuff. When I go out to that lobby, I'm always learning stuff. I'm out there, I'm shaking hands, I'm hearing complaints. Pastor, can we talk to you? You know, this happened. I sent an email and I. Okay, all right, well, let's write down, let's figure this out. I'm just telling you, get out there, be exposed to the church. Our offices are right out this door. I'm out there, I'm hanging with the staff. I'm hearing what's going on. I'm getting the praise reports. I'm getting the, I'm getting the wins and the losses. You know, I'm just picking things up. You got to have a listening ear so you can actually hear the complaints. Because by the way, the complaint was good. The Complaint was valid. The complaint was necessary. The complaint needed to be addressed. So the apostles are hearing and seeing the needs. They knew what was going on. Listen to me when I say this. Denial is not a strength in leadership. Procrastination will weaken your leadership and will weaken relationships, notices. They knew who they were, and out of who they were, and out of what they, they were called to do, they were, boom, able to make immediate decisions based off of identity. It wouldn't be right for us to do it. Peter's like, I'm not a cook. I can't go cook meals. I got to be in the word in prayer. But we do need to address this. So leadership is this series of uncomfortable conversations, right? We've talked about it. They see it, they hear it, and then they address it. And the reality is the sooner you address something, the sooner it's over. And the reason why it's so important for you to be able to make decisions is because you have to free up space from your soul, from your heart, from your mind, from your will, from your emotions, from your spirit, so that then you can do what's most important. Which again is the word in prayer, right? So I have to have self awareness, I have to have organizational awareness. I need to have a listening ear. And then I have to start making decisions based off of the future. I have to think about the future. They make this decision and verse five says, this proposal pleased the whole group. They said, okay, we need to actually raise up more leaders. The problem is we need more leaders. The problem is we need, let's pick seven men and give them more leadership weight. It pleased the group. So that word, proposal there, this proposal, please, the whole group, all that word is their proposal is thought. They had a thought. They were thinking. They think, they were thinking. They were processing. They were planning what's best, not what's easiest, what's best. Stop asking what's easiest. Start asking what's best. What is the best thing we could do for our organization? What decisions are best for tomorrow, not just best for today. So they make the best decision. And then, and then here's what happens. In verse 7, the word of God spread. The number of disciples increased rapidly. Think about it. Based off of decisions, the word of God spread and the number of disciples increased rapidly. So verse seven is our filter. Not feelings, not opinions, not style. What would cause the number of disciples to increase? What would. What would lead to rapid increase? And what would lead to the word of God spreading? That's. Those are the decisions we're making. Glory to God. Come on, somebody. This is powerful. This is powerful. So, man, our church isn't growing, man. Discipleship isn't growing, man. The word of God is not spreading. Okay, we got. We got to start making some better decisions. What decisions do we need to make? Do you need to add a Saturday night? Do you need to cut a Saturday night? Do you need a. Do you need to add some classes, Take some classes? You need to start groups, end groups? Do you need a. Like, what decisions do you need to make that are best not just for today, but for tomorrow? Never, never make a decision based off of today's comfort. Make every decision based off of a better future. I'm telling you, it's tough. Leadership's hard. It's. It's hard, but you got to make the right decisions, courageous decisions. A lot of you. My mentor and pastor Jacob Aranza told me today. He said, jabe, I hear so many leaders talk about, I'm waiting on clarity. And he said, really? They need courage. Whoo. That's a word in the house, you know, I'm just waiting on some clarity on this decision, you know, before I make that decision. I'm trying to get some clarity. He's like, homie, you need courage, courageous decisions for the. For the. For the betterment of the future and for the best outcome of the organization. And usually the best decision hurts today, but it's going to pay dividends in the future. The worst decision usually soothes today, but it's going to hurt you in the future. Come on, everybody, let's make the right decisions in Jesus name. I love you. I'm praying for you. Come on. Like, subscribe, Comment, do all the things. Can you share this in your Instagram story? All those things really help us as we're just trying to get the word out. I love you. I appreciate you. I'm here for you. By the way, senior pastors, senior pastors, we got something big coming. We got something really big coming. November2 and 3, 2026, I'm having a senior pastor's roundtable. I hope you'll join me. I love you guys. We'll see you next week.