Characteristic of a Spiritual Leader

Introduction

Leadership is a part of the Christians Life. We are all called to lead people to Jesus. Leadership is not just for pastor and staff. You are called by God to lead people to Christ. Your Witness, your action, or words all must lead people to Christ. So today I want to talk about your Spiritual Leadership. Joshua was one of the greatest leaders of the Old Testament. Today we will look at this leadership and find three key characteristic of Spiritual leadership.

A Spiritual Leader must be a Spiritual Servant.()

Joshua 1:1 NIV84

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:

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Man under authority…

Before claiming leadership authority over someone you must summit to accepting authority from someone.

Spiritual leadership requires submission to the authority of God and to God’s authority.

Joshua served as “Moses’ aide” for many years before he became a leader.

Summit to those in authority

Exodus 17:9 NIV84

9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

Ex. 17:9

Exodus 33:11 NIV84

11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Numbers 13:16 NIV84

16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.)

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Exodus 13:16 NIV84

And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”

Summit to God

Numbers 14:6 NIV84

6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes

Numbers 32:12 NIV84

12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’

Deuteronomy 1:38 NIV84

38 But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it.

A Spiritual Leader must be going somewhere. ()

A Spiritual Leader must be a Spiritual Sojourner. ()

Joshua 1:2–5 NIV84

2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Spiritual leadership leads people to better place.

Spiritual leadership take people on a journey with God.

This world is not my home I'm just a passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue The angels beckon me from heaven's open door And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Oh lord you know I have no friend like you If heaven's not my home then lord what will I do The angels beckon me from heaven's open door And I can't feel at home in this world anymore Oh lord you know I have no friend like you If heaven's not my home Then lord what will I do The angels beckon me From heaven's open door And I can't feel at home In this world anymore

Oh lord you know I have no friend like you If heaven's not my home Then lord what will I do The angels beckon me From heaven's open door And I can't feel at home In this world anymore

Spiritual leadership does not tell people “they’re ok” they tell them, “they’re not ok and that God has something better for them.

Spiritual leadership does not let people settle for less than what God has for them.

Can you see Joshua telling the people, “God has something more for you than this desert”! God promise for you in on the other side of this river!” They respond, “ but how are we to cross that river?” God will take you over this river.” BUT what about the Giants! What about the Jericho! God will fight your battles… THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S!

SPIRITUAL LEADERS LEAD PEOPLE TO THE LAND OF PROMISE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT LEAD THEM THE LAND OF PROMISE.

TODAY WILL YOU COMMIT TO BEING A SPIRITUAL LEADER:

SPIRITUAL LEADERS SPEAK UP.

SPIRITUAL LEADERS STEP UP.

SPIRITUAL LEADERS WAKE UP.

GOD’S PROMISES FOR YOU ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.

A Spiritual Leader must be a Spiritual Warrior. ()

JOSHUA

Joshua 1:6–10 NIV84

6 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:

A Spiritual Leader must be . ()

Ephesians 6:1–10 NIV84

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Ephesians 6:10–20 NIV84

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

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Steps to success:

Be strong and courageous. This words in the Hebrew meaning is close to the same. God is not commanding Joshua to be physically strong but to be resolute. God is looking for his leaders to have determination to accomplish God’s purpose.

1 I am resolved no longer to linger, charmed by the world's delight; things that are higher, things that are nobler, these have allured my sight.

Refrain: I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free; Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

2 I am resolved to go to the Savior, leaving my sin and strife; He is the true one; He is the just one, He has the words of life. [Refrain]

3 I am resolved, and who will go with me? Come, friends, without delay; taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit, we'll walk the heavenly way. [Refrain]

Be careful to obey God’s Law.

Notice God’s instructions are not military matters but spiritual matters.

Our spiritual leadership is rooted in God’s word, not in our abilities.

The phase, “Be careful to obey” the words are used together as a word pair 40 times and refers to keeping and obeying God’s words of commands.

The world careful is also translated “Keeper” As spiritual leaders we are first “keepers of the law”.

do not turn to the right or left.

do not let it depart from you mouth

do not let is out of your mind.

do everything in it not somethings. The Rich Young Ruler did many things right, but one thing wrong.

Be Blessed

Then you will be a prosperous and courageous.

Not Terrified

Not Discouraged

The LORD is with you!

And I don't expect to stop until I shake their hand they waiting now for me in heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

is world anymore