Scripture
24When they brought them out, Joshua told the commanders of his army, “Come and put your feet on the kings’ necks.” And they did as they were told. 25“Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua told his men. “Be strong and courageous, for the Lord is going to do this to all of your enemies.” Joshua 10:24-25
Observation
In the first chapter of Joshua we see God repeat something three times to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”(Joshua 1:9). Why did God repeat Himself? We can only assume Joshua needed to hear it until he believed it. Moses, the man of God, was dead. Joshua was stepping into some pretty big sandals and was about to face some pretty big enemies and was leading a pretty big group of people. He needed to hear what His very big God thought about him. I love how God spoke what he needed to hear when he needed to hear it and that Joshua didn’t keep it to himself. This passage in Joshua 10 takes place after one of the most epic battles ever recorded. The sun literally stood still to let Joshua continue fighting. Joshua was at the height of his victory and had his boot on the neck of his enemies, but he remembered what God had told him. This was God’s glory and God’s victory and he would never have made it this far if God hadn’t given him those repeated promises and strengthened his identity before a single battle had been fought. Instead of Joshua keeping this all to himself he passed on what God had given him. He brought his commanders in to this moment of victory and told them to place their feet on the king’s necks. Normally, this would be Joshua’s moment, but he wanted them to remember this was God’s moment and notice what he speaks over his leaders? The exact same promises and identity God had spoken over him he now passed on to his leaders.
Application
It’s time for the leaders in the church to pass on what they know and to make room for the next generation to take our place. What God has spoken to our hearts we now to speak into the hearts of those coming up behind us. Let’s pass on the promises and let your younger leaders know that what was true for us is true for them too! Unlike Moses, Joshua wasn’t going to wait until he was old and gray to pass on what had been invested in to him. This is what discipleship looks like. In the New Testament Paul described it this way, “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”(2 Timothy 2:2) When Cyndi and I sit with young couples we are passing on what God has poured into us through others. When I meet with other church planters I pass on to them the painful lessons I’ve learned through many mistakes made over the years. When there’s a victory in the ministry I intentionally bring attention to the team leaders who made it happen as we follow together.
Jeff Roper recently shared, "If it is true that "everything rises and falls on leadership," we have a problem. A recent international survey revealed that 86 percent of respondents believe we are facing a significant global leadership crisis. The study encompassed leadership in business, government, the non-profit sector, and religion. Non-profit and business leaders ranked highest in terms of public confidence. Government leaders ranked very low. The only leaders to rank lower than government leaders were religious leaders." Why in the world are religious leaders the least trusted? One reason is that we are still possessing what we were supposed to pass on. We are still clinging to what we needed to give away. The median age in the United States is about 34 years old right now and the median age in churches is around 55 to 60. “As a generation of clergy ages and prepares to step down, it is not clear that churches are prepared for the transition,” Barna reported. “If this trend goes unaddressed, the Church in the U.S. will face a real succession crisis.” According to Ashley Ekmay, a lead researcher for Barna, one of the most significant questions arising from the study is whether pastors are exhibiting to younger people that entering the ministry is worth it. “The data seems to indicate that the answer to that question is no,” she said.(faithandleadership.com) It’s time to pass on what we know to those we know so they can share in the victories God is still working out in His Church. Whose Church is it anyway?
Prayer
This is Your Church! I must not cling to that which doesn’t belong to me. This is Your Victory! Thank You Jesus for all the leaders who have poured into my life over the years. I’m concerned for our young leaders who don’t see any room for them to lead in the church. I just heard recently that there are no leaders in their 30’s in the pipeline to take the church in our District. I must be even more intentional about passing on what You have poured in to me.
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