God's Undeniable Leadership-1

GOD's UNDENIABLE LEADERSHIP-I—Joshua 3:7-17

Attention:

There is a couple from one of the churches where I had served, who have recently had another child...a beautiful little girl! She came out with enough hair to have a ‘permanent’!

I recently saw a picture of her on Facebook.

What I noticed in this latest picture is that the infant is the ‘spittin’ image’ of her big brother Henry.

Their relationship is UNDENIABLE!

We are faced with a lack of undeniably godly leadership in the world today.

We shouldn’t tolerate it in Christian circles.

Need:

God began to...magnify Joshua’s ministry among Israel...make His leader known among the children of Israel...make His leadership thru Joshua undeniable among His people.

*God makes His leadership undeniable among His people.

How does God make His leadership undeniable to His people?

1—God’s leadership is Undeniable in...

CONTINUITY(:7)

Explanation:(:7-8)

:7—“Now the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.”

“Now the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel,...”

The LORD(YaHWeH) spoke to Joshua directly.

Joshua was to be “exalted.”

Joshua’s exaltation came from the Lord. Joshua’s exaltation was not a result of human ability.

The pending miraculous crossing of the Jordan was the beginning of Joshua’s exaltation.

God wanted His people to know that He will be with Joshua in the same sense that He had been with Moses.

“Begin to”—llx khaw-lal’—Hiphil(causative) Imperfect—1) To profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin. Strong—properly--To bore, i.e. by implication--To wound, to dissolve; figuratively--To profane(a person, place or thing), To break(one's word), To begin(as if by an "opening wedge"); denominative(from 02485)--To play(the flute).

“Exalt/Magnify”—ldg gaw-dal’—Hiphil(causative) Imperfect—1) To grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things—1d) (Hiphil)—1d1) To make great, 1d2) To magnify, 1d3) To do great things. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To twist [compare 01434], i.e. To be(causatively--Make) large(in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride).

“Sight”—Nye ah'-yin—1) Eye—1a) Eye—1a1) Of physical eye, 1a2) As showing mental qualities, 1a3) Of mental & spiritual faculties (fig.); 2) Spring, fountain. Strong—probably a primitive word; An eye(literally or figuratively); by analogy--A fountain(as the eye of the landscape).

“...Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.”

Why would this statement be reassuring to Joshua?

Rather than being satisfied with God’s determination, some would have balked at not taking Moses’ place or sharing his spotlight, preferring rather to receive praise but also notoriety.

Likewise, the Holy Spirit indwells every true Christian.

Jn. 14:15-18—“If you love Me, keep My commandments. “And I will pray the Father, & He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you & will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

?How was God with Moses?...

*God Called & Allowed Moses to—Lead—Fail—Frustrated—Triumph—Follow Him.

*Moses’ purpose was to lead the children of Israel out of bondage & into the land God had promised them. It also incidentally/unintentionally became his purpose to reveal the true hearts of those he led, by enticing them toward YaHWeH from their culturally(Egyptian) accepted gods.

Mentored—Mimicking—Imitation—Influenced by Greatness—Learn from successful Christians.

*God never said Joshua would ‘BE’ Moses but that God would be with Joshua in the same way He was with Moses.

Leadership is intended/meant /provided for the sake of others/ the many.

Balkers lose the power of their giftedness, influence, & witness.

We must remember...

Josh. 1:7-9—“Only be strong & very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, then you will have good success. “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.”

In the Bible there is a Continuity from cover to cover! In God’s heart, desire, & work there is a Continuance thru all time & thru every generation of mankind, so that there is nothing lost of God’s will.

“Know”—edy yaw-dah’—Qal Imperfect—1) To know—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To know, 1a1a) To know, learn to know, 1a1b) To perceive, 1a1c) To perceive see, find out & discern, 1a1d) To discriminate, distinguish, 1a1e) To know by experience, 1a1f) To recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess, 1a1g) To consider, 1a2) To know, be acquainted with, 1a3) To know (a person carnally), 1a4) To know how, be skillful in, 1a5) To have knowledge, be wise. Strong—a primitive root; To know(properly--To ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically & inferentially(including observation, care, recognition; & causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.).