Devotional- Joshua & Leadership

Introduction

In my life, I have had the distinct privilege of meeting several internationally recognized Olympic athletes such as Frank Shorter, Jeff Galloway and Bill Rodgers.

But I have also had the privilege of knowing other lesser known/remembered professional athletes such as Darius Amber-Holland who played ten seasons in the NFL as a defensive tackle, won a super bowl in 1996 whose nickname was “Dirty ‘D’” when he was with the Greenbay Packers.

Be Strong 1. God Encourages His Leader (Josh. 1:1–9)

1. God encourages His leader (Josh. 1:1–9)

I also was good friends with Sanjay Beach.

Sanjay was a wide receiver in the NFL.

He was an excellent wide receiver- fast, strong, smart and reliable.

The only reason Sanjay was not a starting wide receiver was because he was the backup to Jerry Rice.

Jerry Rice

Rice is the career leader in most major statistical categories for wide receivers, including receptions, touchdown receptions, and receiving yards, once being the leader for total yards and touchdowns in a season.

He has scored more points than any other non-kicker in NFL history with 1,256.

Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times (1986–1996, 1998, 2002) and named All-Pro 12 times in his 20 NFL seasons.

He won three Super Bowls with the 49ers and an AFC Championship with the Oakland Raiders.

I can only imagine how difficult it would have been for someone to step in and fill the shoes of a leader like Jerry Rice- a living legend!

Sometimes we can be intimidated of leadership because of the perceived strength in others.

In Biblical terms I think of Joshua whom God commissioned to take over from Moses.

Comparatively, Joshua was taking over leadership from the “Jerry Rice” of his day.

Moses accomplishments:

-God had spoken to Moses from a burning bush

-Moses had led the Israelite people out of 400 years of slavery in Egypt

-to part the Red Sea,

-to part the Red Sea,

- to provide manna from heaven,

-for water to come from a rock,

-He spoke with God face to face and was called the friend of God

-God gave him the Ten Commandments and he led the Israelite people to the promised land

I think Joshua would have all the justification in the world to be intimated of taking over leadership from Moses.

But God knew exactly what Joshua needed as a leader- ENCOURAGEMENT.

(CIT) A leader needs more than just advice- he needs encouragement.

To encourage literally means “to put heart into.”

Today I want to share with you very briefly three points of encouragement from Joshua’s experience as he steps into his leadership role and how that applies to us today.

Today I want to share with you a devotional based in the book of focusing on a threefold lesson:

1. God encourages His leader ()

2. The leader encourages the officers ()

3. The officers encourage their leader ()

It is my prayer that we will learn from the example of Joshua to encourage our leaders as well as develop our own leadership skills.

that we can use in our lives and in our leadership opportunities.

READ JOSHUA 1:1-18

Narrative

Point #1

1. God encourages His leader ()

Encouragement from God’s Commission

God assigns Joshua an intimidating task- something his predecessor was not able to accomplish:

Lead the Hebrew people into the promised land.

One of the first things God tells Joshua is, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

What an encouragement for a leader!

Joshua was a man placed in a position of leadership BY God and with God’s wholehearted support.

Joshua was a man placed in a position of leadership BY God and with God’s wholehearted support.

Leaders don’t lead forever, even godly leaders like Moses.

Joshua was a man with a divine commission and purpose.

If he was ever tempted to fear all he needed to do was recall God’s promise and his fears would vanish.

RELEVANCE:

Jesus gives us the same promise to never leave us nor forsake us in saying,

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”

God Encourages His Leaders

Joshua was tasked to lead.

Who are you tasked to lead?

-Your family

-In your career

-In our communities

Wherever you are tasked to be a leader God will ENCOURAGE you as you follow Him.

Point #2

There comes a time in every ministry when God calls for a new beginning with a new generation and new leadership.

Joshua was hand selected by God to lead His people.

God made promises to Joshua

-They would enter the land (v 3-4)

-God promised victory over the enemy (v 5)

-God promised the people would inherit the land (v 6)

However, before these promises could come to fruition Joshua, as the leader, would have to exercise faith.

Joshua did not destroy all that Moses accomplished

A wise leader doesn’t completely abandon the past but builds on it as he or she moves toward the future.

Moses is mentioned fifty-seven times in the Book of Joshua, evidence that Joshua respected Moses and what he had done for Israel.

2. The leader encourages the officers ()

Joshua encourages his officers in verse 11 with a matter of fact statement saying,

“Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.”

We must keep in mind the context of Joshua’s words;

-The Israelites had been slaves for 400 years

-Their parents refused to enter the promised land out of fear and lack of faith

-The Jordan River (at flood stage) stood between them and entering

-And they would have to wage war to take the land God promised them

Yet, despite

-The physical obstacles that lay ahead.

- Despite the emotional/mental temptations to run away

Joshua ENCOURAGED his officers.

RELEVANCE:

Leaders must ENCOURAGE those whom they lead.

We must have a God-given goal and then KNOW that He will enable us to attain it.

Leaders ENCOURAGE-

LEADERS PUT THEIR HEART INTO DOING WHAT GOD CALLS THEM TO DO AND THEN ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.

Point #3

3. The officers encourage their leader ()

After Joshua speaks to his officers this is their response:

“16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you.”

That response had to have been music to Joshua’s ears!

I want to point out two words from their response:

-”Whatever” & “Wherever”

“Whatever”

With one little word, (whatever) Joshua’s officers concisely told him they were willing to do any task, any job, any amount of work large or small

They would do anything for him.

That is encouragement for a leader.

Nothing is more discouraging for a leader than to hear grumbling and discontent.

Wherever

And the second word is just as important as the first (wherever).

His officers were not just willing to do “whatever” was asked but this word points to the previous failure of their parents.

They were willing to go wherever-Even to a place where their parents refused to go- into the promised land!

Joshua’s officers saw God’s hand and leadership upon him and where

With one little word, (whatever), Joshua’s officers concisely told him they were willing to do anything for him.

No matter what task, whether large or small they were willing to carry out “whatever” he needed them to do.

“Wherever”

This word, (wherever) points back forty years earlier to the refusal of their parents to enter the promised land.

They tell Joshua:

As you FOLLOW GOD SO WE WILL FOLLOW YOU

-We are willing to do all that you ask

-And we will go anywhere to accomplish the mission

Joshua’s officers were engaged, obedient and ENCOURAGING their leader as he followed God.

RELEVANCE:

There are times we lead and times that we must follow.

I tell recruits that to become a great leader you must learn how to be a great follower.

As we follow we must give ENCOURAGEMENT to Godly leadership.

As our leaders submit to and follow God’s direction we too must submit and ENCOURAGE their leadership.

CONCLUSION

Joshua was appointed to lead after the “Jerry Rice” of his day- Moses, referred to as “The Man of God” and “God’s Friend”.

As a leader Joshua needed to give and receive ENCOURAGEMENT even more than advice.

Joshua was encouraged

A. By God- He would not abandon Joshua

B. Joshua GAVE encouragement to his officers

C. His officers encouraged him- to do whatever, wherever

As we follow God we will face difficult and seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Let us look to the leadership example of Joshua:

-Place our trust in what God has called us to do

-Be encouraged in His strength

-And give and receive encouragement from others

When we do I believe we will find strength and courage to do amazing things together.