God Leads: Pastoral Leadership and Church Submission

Aim of the Sermon

I desire that the pastors would grow in their resolve to fulfill their responsibility to lead the church and that the church members will grow in their commitment to submit and obey.

Text | Numbers 9:15-10:10

Numbers 9:15–10:10 ESV

15 On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 18 At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out. 21 And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23 At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses. 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. 3 And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. 6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. 9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”

Pastoral Prayer

Introduction | God Leads His People

Recently Jess and I took the girls to Jump Off Rock in Laurel Park, NC near Hendersonville. If you have never been I encourage you to go. It has one of the better view of the mountains I have seen in our area. The majestic view of the western mountains is gorgeous.

When we finished taking in the view and interrupting a romantic outdoor wedding, Jess and I led the girls down an “EASY” hiking trail that was very short. I put “easy” in quotation marks, because when one decides to go down an easy hiking trail with a toddler you expect not to have to navigate a steep decline that requires you carefully use the exposed root system as the footing holds of a rock climbing wall.

Nevertheless there we were. Hadley and I stood at the top of what seemed about a steep 6 ft drop. How do we get down? We had to get from way up here to way down there. It was necessary and good that we do. But getting there presented quite the challenge.

First, I decided to descend. With a few carefully chosen steps I managed to get to the bottom without hurting myself. Now I had to get Hadley down.

When I turned to get her, her toes which were just a few inches above my head inched back away from the edge in timidity. When I told her I would help her get down she moved towards me hoping I would pick her up and transport her to the lower ground. But, I stopped her. I said, “No, Daddy will help you walk down.” At first she refused, but the opportunity to ride on Dad’s shoulders if she did finally convinced her to start the climb downward. Reaching upward, I grabbed her right hand with mine, and with my left I began telling her where to place her foot. From the first step to the last, I guided her forward. I stabilized her with one hand and directed her with the other. First this root and then that rock followed by a small flat piece of ground that even had a little grass growing on it. Sometimes, she questioned my decision making. On an occasion or two she refused and so I led her a different way. In the end, we did it. I led her. She followed. And together we arrived at the bottom.

I share this story with you, because I want to put in your mind and heart an image of God that I am afraid we might miss in Numbers. We have seen much about God’s holiness. He is high and lifted up. He is pure and righteous and good, and he does not tolerate sin. His commands are many and punishment for disobedience is not withheld. All of this is true and right. However, there is something else in here I think we are meant to see. Something tender and gentle about God. Something truly amazing. A real demonstration right in front of us of God’s posture and attitude toward his people.

I will state it like this. “God Leads His People.”

This statement still feels inadequate because when I says God leads, what first comes to my mind is a warrior. One who runs out to the front lines with his sword in hand ready to take charge and lead the men to the spoils of victory. Or, I think of a great manager or CEO who leads a team of people to perform well and accomplish much. Or, I think of a great athlete who puts the team on her back while she scores more points and does more good than anyone else.

This statement seems inadequate because although all of those images apply to God’s leadership of His people at times, there is something a little more subtle and a little less obvious that at least I tend to over look. In God’s leadership there is a gentleness, a humility, a patience, a kindness, a lowliness to it. Like a father who comes down to the child to gently and patiently and loving guide her down a steep cliff, or like a strong young man gently and closely stables and leads a weary, weak, feeble widow one slow step at a time to the safety of a chair, so God led Israel through the wilderness and so now he leads us. If you are God’s, God is not locked inside his palace sending decrees and commands accompanied by threats of punishment to a distant land. Instead, he is a close and present father. Holding your hand and guiding your foot each step along the way so that you like the nation of Israel may arrive safely to the destination He has promised.

As I studied this text this week and saw this gentle and loving guidance of God I experienced 2 effects.

Effect #1 | Comfort and Relief

I remember a few time where I have had the chance to stabilize and assist an older person get to their seat. As they near their seat there comes a point when they realize they might not make. If they do its going to be a struggle. If you pay close attention you will see a little bit of anxiousness in their eyes, and sometimes they will even begin to shake just a little bit. What I find amazing is that when someone comes to their aid. To help them, to guide them to their seat, the anxiety dissipates. WIth the touch of a strong hand a sense of comfort and relief brings the nervousness to a calm.

God’s stabilizing and near guidance does this to me. Often, I have no idea how to get to where God has called us to go. Often, I am consumed by a sense of lostness. There are many days I look over the cliff I must descend or the mountain I must climb and I think, there is no way. Sometimes my weakness and inability leaves me convince that I will not make it. I will fall over right here well short of safety, far before I arrive at the destination. My anxiousness, my despair lingers until God graciously reminds me that I am not out here finding my way on may own. He has my hand, and he is leading and guiding me. He is directing this. Oh what comfort and relief and freedom there is to be found in this truth. God leads his people. He is guiding them from salvation to glorification!

Effect #2 | Curiosity

This truth makes me feel comforted and relieved. But if I am honest, I struggle to answer this question? "How does God lead His people?” I don’t know about you but sometimes I think it would be better if God still directed us with a cloud and fire. Just follow the cloud. If it moves go with it. If it stops, stop. Wouldn’t it be nice if God just rested a cloud over the head of the one you are to marry? What if He descended in a pillar of fire and walked you to the college you should attend? Or, what if he directed you to the employer so you might apply with full confidence that this is the course God would have you take?

When I turned to the text specifically and Scripture generally, I learned a few things about God’s guidance and leading of His people.

God Leads His People through Human Leaders.

We see this in our text in Num. 9:23. The clear emphasis of Num. 9:15-22 is that God leads the people through the stopping and moving of the cloud that takes on the appearance of fire at night. Whenever it moved the people set out and whenever it rested the people remained. Sometimes it stopped for a night, sometimes for two nights, sometimes for weeks! The people never knew. Instead they just followed the cloud.

This constant following the cloud is equated in our text to obeying God’s command.

Numbers 9:18 ESV

18 At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.

and we see it in Num. 9:20

Numbers 9:20 ESV

20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out.

Now in Num. 9:23 we see a new idea. God commands, he charges, he directs his people by Moses.

Numbers 9:23 ESV

23 At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.

Here we find a reference to the way God related Moses and Moses. God exercised authority over Israel by having Moses exercise authority. The Lord command the people how? “By Moses.”

This is exactly why God established Moses in the first place. In Exodus we read about God speaking to Moses and tasking him

When we read that God sent Moses, we should understand that by sending Moses, God was placing Moses in a place of authority. He was placing Moses. We might use words such as appointed. Delegated for assignment. We see this in Exodus 3-4 where God called Moses from a burning bush. God instructed Moses to go to the Israelites and say to them, “I AM has sent me to you.”

Why did God send Moses? Was it not to lead the people out of Egypt and Into the promised land? Yes, indeed that is exactly why.

Exodus 3:15–17 ESV

15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’

God was going to lead his people out of bondage and into glory, and here we see that the way he was going to do it was through setting up a man in authority. A man to command and instruct and guide and lead. A man equipped with the authority of God to lead and direct.

How did God command the people? He told Moses and Moses spoke to the people.

Numbers 9:23 ESV

23 At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.

Moses was relaying or giving the command of the Lord. We see it being played out in Numbers but this relationship was established way back in Exodus 3-4 as well. There God called Moses to go speak to the people. He was not to come up with his own words or ideas. He was not to lead them according own inclinations or opinions. He was not to be an entrepreneur with a dreamed up vision. Instead, he was to receive the word of the Lord and go pass it on to the people.

In verses 15-22, we see God leading His people in a supernatural and mysterious way. There is a cloud and a fire that comes and goes as it pleases. When it moves the people move. When it sits still, the people sit still.

In verses 1-10 of chapter 10, we see a transition from God’s activity to man’s. God is leading this thing. But, he does not lead them apart from human activity. Notice how this plays out in verses 1-10

Numbers 10:1–7 ESV

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. 3 And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. 6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm.

God leaves no doubt. He is in charge. No one is to move unless he directs them to do so. But, He has chosen to direct his people through the activity of people. In this case, Moses and the priests had the responsibility to make trumpets, to sound them so that the people would know when to gather and when to set out. God gave clear directions about how to make the trumpets. When to blow them. How to blow them. And, when the blowing of the trumpets were meant to produce.

God is God. He could have led the people in any way he wished. The possibilities are endless for him. We see in other places in Scripture he simply transported people. But that is not how he works normally. The way he leads his people, the way he brings them from one place to another is the use of human beings. He places them in authority and uses their activity to bringing about his desired outcome for His people. This is the way God works and we see it in the entirety of Scripture.

Four Aspects of Divinely Appointed Human Leadership

The ultimate demonstration of these truths that God lead His people through Human Authority and Activity is found in Jesus Christ, the God Man. When we flip to the New Testament, we find that one greater than Moses has come. In Jesus we find each aspect of leadership we find in Moses taken to the fullest extent.

First, Jesus was sent by God to save His people from their bondage.

Second, Jesus was equipped with all authority.

Matthew 28:18 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Third, Jesus commanded all the Father had commanded.

John 12:49–50 ESV

49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Fourth, Jesus not only spoke but he actively did all the Father’s will.

John 4:34 ESV

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

John 10:18 ESV

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

By his execution of authority though speaking and doing all the Father commanded, Jesus successfully leads God’s people out of bondage and will safely bringing them into the glory promised them. Right now God’s people are led by a man. A man sent from God who is equipped with authority, given a message, and assigned the tasks of actively working to bring about all that the Lord has commanded. That man is Jesus.

This raises a problem or at least a question for us who live under the authority of Jesus. Jesus is not here with us any longer. After His resurrection He ascended back to the Father. So what now? How are we led? How do we experience the the leadership of Christ in 2021.

When we ask that question and look to the Scriptures we will find that the answer is very similar. God continues this day to lead his people through human authority and activity. The particular role is no longer filled by Moses but by pastors. Men God has placed. In the New Testament, we see each of these aspects we saw in Moses and then in Jesus attributed to pastors or elders as we sometimes refer to them. Let me show you.

First, Pastors are sent by God

Acts 20:28 ESV

28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Second, pastors are equipped with authority

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Third, pastors are to speak the message they have been given

Titus 1:9 ESV

9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Fourth, pastors are to actively bring about the fulfillment of God’s command.

Galatians 4:18–19 ESV

18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

Titus 1:9 ESV

9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Do you see? In the wilderness, God led his people through men. Now, in 2021, he does the same. Back then, God led his people through Moses. Now, he leads them through pastors, whom he has gifted to the church. Since there is continuity between the way God leads you today and how he led Israel several thousands of years ago, we can learn a few things about this relationship by looking at the relationship between Moses and the people. Ill state them as acknowledgements. Things we must acknowledge given the fact that God works this way.

Necessary Acknowledgements

Acknowledgement #1 | God has placed your pastors.

Often I find myself losing sight of this fact. I think it may be because the installment or placing of pastors is so closely tied to human action and decisions. How did you the people and we the pastors enter this relationship? The nearest answer we have is that Robert and I chose to come to CF Northwest and you the people chose to come be a part. Didn’t we enter this relationship with the vote of the people? These things are true. Indeed we did. But, the obviousness of our roles in the forming of this relationship must not obscure or cloud God’s role in the relationship.

God stands above, behind, and in our decisions. He did not just give us instructions on the relationship if we so choose to enter it. Instead, he providentially worked in our hearts and in yours. He actively and decisively determined our steps so that we have arrived here at this moment in which the relationship has been established. God’s people and the pastors. His work is so determinant in this relationship we enjoy, that it is right to say that God gave you Robert and Daniel as your pastors and he entrusted you the members of CF Northwest to us.

Acknowledgement #2 | You, the people, are under authority.

That statement kind of stings a little bit does it not? The nature of this relationship is authoritative. To be honest it is even a little bit uncomfortable for me to say so plainly. But, this is what we find in the Scriptures. Obey and Submit to your leaders. This is the way God leads His people.

Our culture hates this. We are in open rebellion against all institutions, people, and even scientific laws that assert themselves with any type of authority. This has affected both the members of the church (those under authority) and the pastors (those in authority).

Members often adopt the mindset of the culture. They will receive the words of the pastors as counsel, suggestions, advice, and maybe even nuggets of wisdom. However, they will not give up their own autonomy and submit. They reserve the right to veto any direction or instruction they deem unnecessary, unhelpful, or undesirable. The pastors are reduced to peers. I am afraid that the church has so been affected by the culture of self-determinism that it is not that members openly and heatedly rebel, but that they no longer even recognize the authority. To dismiss the guidance and direction of the pastors does not feel like rebellion because the authority is not acknowledged.

This despising of authority affects pastors in a different way. Out of fear, we often fail to exercise our authority. We approach you with ideas and suggestions for you to take or to leave rather than to come with authority. We are afraid to speak decisively, to give clear vision and direction as to what we are going to do as a church and how we are planning to get there.

Be assured that if we fail to acknowledge the authoritative nature of the pastors’ relationship with the people, this church will go nowhere. The pastors will be paralyzed by fear unwilling to give direction and lead. The members will will remain cemented firmly in their own opinions, ideas, and ways. The result will be a fragmented collection of individuals standing around complaining about each other. The pastors about their people and the people about their pastors.

Acknowledgement #3 | You, the pastors, are responsible.

Notice with me once again Heb. 13:17

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Did you catch the argument? You the people are to submit to us the pastors because why? Because, Robert and I have been tasked to keep watch over your soul. We are responsible for your soul. Can you think of any greater responsibility in this earthly life. Do you know what we are doing? What we have been tasked with? God has brought you under our care, and our responsibility is to lead you, guide you, keep watch over you, like a shepherd over the sheep so that you might arrive at your future salvation.

The apostle Paul states this very pointedly to Timothy his disciple

1 Timothy 4:16 ESV

16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Your pastors have been tasked with a great responsibility. They carry a burden that you do not carry. I am not saying they are the only one’s carrying a burden. I am saying that their responsibility and burden are unique. It comes with being placed in this authoritative role by God. They are to know God and his will and then lead and build His church through instruction and rebuke so that they and their people experience the future salvation that awaits them.

Failure to acknowledge the responsibility of the pastors will lead to an unwillingness by the people to hear hard things and an unwillingness by the pastors to say hard things. If the pastor is responsible to work tirelessly until Christ is formed in a people who do not yet look like Christ, hard things will need to be said. Hard things will need to be done. Like a dr. who makes devastating diagnosis and prescribes painful treatment, so at times pastors must be willing to rightly identify and expose the ugly truths about us sinners. Pastors have the hard tasks of prescribing the necessary steps one should take forward, actions that will challenge the desires of the flesh and stir up all types of passions which war against the truth and the work of the Spirit. Only pastors who acknowledge their responsibility will stand with courage to faithfully speak and lead. Only church members who acknowledge the responsibility of the pastors will bend in submission and follow the pastor’s lead.

Conclusion

As God did with Moses and His people, so He has done with us. He has chosen to lead and guide his people through appointed men. He uses the authority and activity of men to direct His people along the journey from deliverance from sin to glorification. This instructs us - both pastors and people - to live and operate in the design and order God has given.

Pastors, we must be diligent to watch over our conduct and our doctrine so that we are constantly ready and able to lead faithfully and courageously knowing that to God we give an account. The future salvation of our people stands in direct relationship to our faithfulness to carry out the authority with which we have been equipped for the good of those entrusted to us.

Church Members, you must be inclined to listen. To hear and obey. This does not mean you do not question. It does not mean that you walk blindly behind a man. It does mean that the default posture should be humble submission knowing that it is they the pastors who are under greatest scrutiny. It is they who have been assigned the great task of watching over your soul so as to make sure you arrive at glory. Let your obedience and submission be of such the kind that it is sweet to your pastors. May their service to you be a joyful experience.