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.).
“Was with...Be with/Been with...Be with”—hyh haw-yaw—1) To be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
“With”2X—Me `eem—Preposition—1) With—1a) With, 1b) Against, 1c) Toward, 1d) As long as, 1e) Beside, except, 1f) In spite of. Strong—adverb or preposition, With(i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically--Equally with; often with prepositional prefix--And then(usually unrepresented in English). Used 26X.
“Moses”—hvm Mo-sheh'—Moses = “Drawn”—1) The prophet lawgiver, leader of the exodus. Strong—from hvm[To pull out]; drawing out(of the water), i.e. Rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver.
“Be”—hyh haw-yaw—1) To be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out. Strong—To exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass(always emphatic, & not a mere copula or auxiliary).
Argumentation:
Mk. 6:14-15—“Now King Herod heard of Him[Jesus], for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, & therefore these powers are at work in him.” Others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”
Jn. 1:19-21—“Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests & Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, & did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
Deut. 18:15-19—[Moses said...]““The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ “And the LORD said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. ‘I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, & will put My words in His mouth, & He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.”
Acts 3:19-23—[Peter stated]““Repent therefore & be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, & that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. ‘And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’”
1Pet. 5:1-4—“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder & a witness of the sufferings of Christ, & also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; & when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”
Implies...‘under-shepherds’ are charged with Continuing the work of Christ...as is the church also...
2Tim. 2:1-3—“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
1Cor. 11:1-2—[Paul brazenly said...]“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things & keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.”
2Thess. 3:5-6—“Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God & into the patience of Christ. But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly & not according to the tradition which he received from us.”
Col. 2:6-8—“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted & built up in Him & established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy & empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, & not according to Christ.”
There are two traditions—that of God & that of men—either of which if ‘blindly’ followed, is anemic & damning!
Lk. 1:26-27, 30-35—“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”.....“Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb & bring forth a Son, & shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, & will be called the Son of the Highest; & the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, & of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered & said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, & the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Mat. 1:18-25—“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, & not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, & you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, & bear a Son, & they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him & took to him his wife, & did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.”
Mat. 5:17-20—“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven & earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, & teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does & teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes & Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Lk. 24:25-27—[Jesus to 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus]“Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, & slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things & to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses & all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
Illustration:
Saturday(Nov. 14, 2015) I walked into the Carrabelle P.O. to pick up some larger boxes of material for the church/While I was there the lady behind the counter was explaining to a ‘new employee’ how to take care of a customer’s needs(in front of me)/There are obvious methods of doing the work at the P.O./Training’ assumes there will be a Continuation of operations so that the work will continue flawlessly!/CONTINUITY
Application:
?Is God’s leadership undeniable in Your CONTINUITY?
?Is God’s Leadership Undeniable in His people?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
The new baby sister who looks exactly like her big brother—relationship Undeniable!
Action:
God’s leadership is Undeniable in...
1. CONTINUITY(:7)
Pt. 1 only! presented 11/15/2015am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(Ave. A SE)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
