Conditions For Assuming Leadership-3 Series

CONDITIONS For ASSUMING LEADERSHIP-III—Joshua 1:1-18

New/Begin/Start/Change

Before we assume leadership/take control we better be sure conditions are right. Otherwise you’ll be ‘landing on a short runway’ every time!

Need:

Resentment/Disappointment/Anger/Uneasy/Frightened/

Confused

—Accepting/Invigorated/New Life

Look to the future with...

Joy/Anticipation/Goal/Purpose/Accomplishment

Upon Moses’ death, God called Joshua to lead Israel.

God always calls capable leaders to lead His people.

What is involved in being an effective leader of God’s people?

So far we have found 3 Conditions for Assuming Leadership among God’s people are

A Defined/Decisive...

1. POSITION(:1-2)

2. BOUNDARY(:3-4)

3. ADVANTAGE(:5-6)

4—A Condition for Assuming leadership among God’s people is

A Defined/Decisive COURAGE(:6-7, 9)

Explanation:(:6-7, 9)

:6a—“Be strong & of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”

Joshua is told to be “strong & of good courage.” He needed to be strong & courageous in order to give the people possession of the land. The land had been promised to the ancestors(Abraham, Isaac & Jacob) of the Israelites.

Strength is—“The ability to resist being moved or broken by a force; or The quality that allows someone to deal with problems in a determined & effective way.” “One regarded as embodying or affording force or firmness.”

Courage is— ‘The ability to do something that frightens one”; “Strength in the face of pain or grief” “The ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous.”

“Strong”—qzx khaw-zak'—To strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.

“Good Courage/Courageous”—Uma aw-mats'—To be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard.

:7a—“Only be strong & very courageous; ...”

God again encourages Joshua to be strong & intensifies his need to be courageous.

He is exhorted to do according to all the law that Moses commanded. Joshua must take great personal care in doing so. If He turned away from it to either the left or the right, Joshua would not be guaranteed success in his efforts.

:9—“Have I not commanded you? Be strong & of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””

The LORD yet again exhorts Joshua to be strong & courageous. He is told not to “afraid”/tremble(from fear) or be dismayed(lose hope, become disillusioned, dread).

The reason for Joshua’s lack of fear & dismayal is due to the continual presence of the LORD his God regardless of where Joshua was. If we are within God’s will every step of the way, then God is always there.

Upon being encouraged in his task by the LORD, Joshua would/was only then able to command those under him.

“Afraid/Tremble”—Fearful of a negative impact of my decision/Anxiety about future.

“Dismayed”—Disillusioned/Lose focus/Cause to question—Give up.

“Commanded”(See :10, 11)—hwu tsaw-vaw’—Piel(intensive/intentional) Perfect—To command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order—1a) (Piel)—1a1) To lay charge upon, 1a2) To give charge to, give command to, 1a3) To give charge unto, 1a4) To give charge over, appoint, 1a5) To give charge, command, 1a6) To charge, command, 1a7) To charge, commission, 1a8) To command, appoint, ordain (of divine act). Strong—primitive root; intensively--To constitute, enjoin.

“Afraid/Tremble”—Ure aw-rats’—Qal Imperfect—To tremble, dread, fear, oppress, prevail, break, be terrified, cause to tremble. Strong—a primitive root; To awe or intransitive--To dread; hence--To harass. Used 15X.

“Dismayed”—ttx khaw-thath’—Niphal(passive) Imperfect—To be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, be abolished, be afraid. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To prostrate; hence--To break down, either (literally)by violence, or (figuratively)by confusion & fear.

Argumentation:

**Eph. 6:10-20—“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh & blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, & having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, & having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, & the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer & supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance & supplication for all the saints-- & for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”