BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS: EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP FROM JOSHUA 6
It s time to lead. Be strong and courageous. When you hear the word leader, what face or name comes to mind? An entrepreneur or CEO? A pastor? A coach? A general? Let me add one more entry to that list: you. Do you think of yourself as a leader? You are. You may not lead a business, a church, a team, or a military unit, but you re still called to lead. A husband becomes a leader when he says, I do. Parents become leaders as soon as their baby is born. Employees who have responsibility for others are leaders in the workplace. Church members are leaders when they serve guests in the parking lots, teach children and students, or serve on the financial team. So what s your blueprint for leading? We have a great model of leadership in Joshua, the man called by God to move His people from wandering in the wilderness to conquering their own land. Throughout the Book of Joshua, God has given us a blueprint on how to be godly and effective leaders. So let s explore leadership from God s Word. Think of the leadership role God has given you. Picture in your mind the faces of the people you lead and influence. Open your heart to what God can do by His power through available servants and leaders like you. Let s walk through this door together and be changed into the leaders God desires. Paul Jimenez Paul Jimenez is senior pastor at Taylors First Baptist Church in Taylors, South Carolina. Paul served on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., before God called him to seminary and service in the local church. He is married to his best friend, Cheri, and together they deeply love and parent a daughter and a son. Most of all he wants to see the kingdom of God break through in his family, his church, and throughout the world. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 7
SESSION 1 ACCEPT YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE 8 SESSION 1
When have you wondered, Am I ready for this? QUESTION #1 #BSFLBeStrong BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 9
THE POINT As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE When I think of stress, the image that comes to mind is General Dwight D. Eisenhower on the eve of D-Day, about to send thousands of troops across the English Channel into the teeth of the German army. He d planned and prepared, but uncertainty lay ahead. In fact, Eisenhower was so uncertain about the success of D-Day that he drafted a statement taking full blame should the mission fail. 1 You and I don t carry that kind of stress, nor do we bear that level of responsibility. Yet there are days when the weight on our shoulders feels heavier than ever maybe even heavier than we can bear. These are the moments when we must lead well. Joshua was another leader standing on the banks of a body of water with enemies waiting on the other side. He was full of questions about the role he d been given, anxious to make the right decisions. From this D-Day long ago, we can learn much that will help us lead well in our own roles. 10 SESSION 1
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Joshua 1:1-9 (HCSB) 1 After the death of Moses the LORD s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had served Moses: 2 Moses My servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. 3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great Euphrates River all the land of the Hittites and west to the Mediterranean Sea. 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. 7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. 9 Haven t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Recite (v. 8) The Hebrew term means to meditate, as in Psalm 1:2. The modern idea of rehearsing something through repetition captures the meaning of recite perfectly. Prosper (v. 8) This term does not mean to make money, but rather to accomplish God s directives and goals for us as revealed in His Word. Succeed (v. 8) This word is similar to prosper but emphasizes developing the ability to see and to do things God s way, resulting in a Godhonoring lifestyle. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 11
THE POINT As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. Joshua 1:1-6 Do you see yourself as a leader? You are. Everybody leads in some capacity. Even if your influence only touches the life of one other person adult, student, or child that is leadership! That s why the Book of Joshua is for you. Its encouraging message is that God is in control, even as we stand on the banks of our most difficult leadership challenges. The moment described at the beginning of Joshua 1 must have been nerve-wracking for Joshua himself. Yet, with the benefit of history, we can see that God was completely in control: God had engineered every moment in Joshua s life up to this point. Joshua had witnessed God rescue His people from Egypt in a supernatural way and miraculously meet their needs in the wilderness for 40 years. God had engineered the circumstances of the people Joshua led. God had been faithful to the promises He made to the patriarchs hundreds of years earlier: And to you and your future offspring I will give the land where you are residing all the land of Canaan as an eternal possession, and I will be their God (Gen. 17:8; also see 26:4; 35:11-12). God was ready to engineer the circumstances ahead. God mapped out the steps ahead for Joshua and the people regarding the land they were to inherit. As for enemies who would threaten them on the way, God reminded Joshua that none can stand against His purposes; therefore, Joshua need only trust God and obey His commands. Whenever I drive, I want to be one or two turns ahead in my thinking. If my wife is giving me directions, I ll ask: But what s ahead? What s the next turn? If I m using a GPS, I ll scroll forward to be prepared. Many of us approach leadership in the same way. We want to know what s coming every potential challenge so we ll be prepared. But God is ultimately in control. He desires that we trust Him for what lies ahead. He ll reveal what we need in His perfect timing and according to His perfect plan. God has already worked in you, He s working in others, and He s ready to work in the challenges ahead. Where in your past can you see evidence of God s faithfulness? QUESTION #2 12 SESSION 1
LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATIONS What words or images come to mind when you hear the term Leader? Record them in the space below. (Feel free to create a list of words, draw a picture, or both.) Who are some leaders in your life who exemplify the qualities you listed above? "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time." 1 PETER 5:6 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 13
THE POINT As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. Joshua 1:7-8 When God spoke to Joshua on the eve of moving into the land, He reminded Joshua that it was His law, His revealed words, that would guide Joshua while carrying out his leadership role. So, how was Joshua to stay centered on God s book of instruction? How are we? The answer comes in verse 8. First, God told Joshua to recite, or meditate on, the Scriptures. Second, God told him to engage the Scriptures on a regular and consistent basis day and night. Third, God told him to recite His Word so that he may carefully observe everything written in it. In other words, the goal of Joshua s meditation was to produce a diligent response in his everyday behavior. Let s be clear about this idea of meditation. The purpose of reciting and meditating on Scripture is to clear your mind of your own thoughts and desires. This is not the same as the practice of emptying your mind encouraged by many Eastern philosophies. Biblical meditation and recitation means you center your thoughts on what God has said and then declare it verbally so that you can remember it and obey it. Performing these actions helped equip Joshua for leadership. Even more, God promised that obeying the Scriptures would enable Joshua to prosper and succeed in his mission. This wasn t a guarantee that Joshua would become rich or famous. Instead, it was a promise that God would be with him that Joshua would accomplish the goals God had set before him. We can claim the same promise, as well, when we build our lives on the foundation of God s Word. This is good news, because we all lead others in some capacity. With the Scriptures as our guide, we can stay rightly focused on and wisely carry out our responsibilities toward their proper end. What obstacles hinder us from making the most of God s Word in our lives? QUESTION #3 14 SESSION 1
Joshua 1:9 In verse 5, God comforted Joshua with the promise that He would be with him and would not leave or forsake him. God then added in verse 9 that He would be with Joshua wherever he went. As a result, Joshua didn t have to be afraid or discouraged. In fact, God commanded him three times to be strong and courageous (vv. 6-7,9). Fear and discouragement are natural feelings, but they can be overcome through the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, be strong and courageous: 1. When you consider the great task in front of you. God knows you sometimes feel overwhelmed when you consider your different responsibilities as a leader. But none of those responsibilities are too big for Him to handle, and He is with you. What does it look like for a believer to be strong and courageous in today s culture? QUESTION #4 2. So you can respond diligently to the Word of God. The Scriptures will call you to step outside of your comfort zones in order to act wisely, demonstrate integrity, and focus on the greater good of those you lead. That s not always popular, yet if you are to prosper and succeed in your leadership, you must do so biblically and that often takes courage. 3. As you move forward. Sometimes you feel ready to charge ahead. Other times you feel like folding up the tent, overcome by fears or discouragement. This is when you need to hold onto the comforting promise: the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (v. 9). In what area of your life do you need to step up and lead? QUESTION #5 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 15
I have been in many meetings with this mentor, and never have we met without praying. Often, we have spent more time praying than discussing, more time seeking God than searching for answers, and more time on our knees than at the round table. That is not to say, however, that we accomplished nothing; in fact, we always finished our work under the power of God. His prayer, though, is hardly limited to ministry matters. My mentor has been deeply involved in the local church, in denominational matters, and in global outreach. Because even Christians sometimes act sinfully, I m certain he has seen less than godly behavior through the years. Never, by CHUCK LAWLESS though, have I heard him speak critically about others. Many times I ve heard him say instead, But for God s grace, we could be there, too. Let s pray. Somehow, it s easier to love others when you pray for them rather than criticize them. AM WRITING this column about one week after I learned that one of my professional mentors has announced his retirement. As his friend and coworker, I have watched him live his faith in his home and in his ministry. He is for me what a mentor ought to be: someone who so walks with God My mentor has reminded me: that you want to be like him. I have learned so much from him that Be a man or woman of God it s difficult to limit my comments, but here are three lessons he who follows Him in uncompromised obedience. Know God s has taught me. Word well. Listen to His Spirit through the Word and the wise counsel of other believers. children and grandchildren by Be ready to follow God to name. They intentionally plan do whatever He asks as He vacations to spend uninterrupted time with each other and gives direction. I was not raised in a Christian Indeed, my mentor has an home, so I did not grow up with family members. inspiring ability to determine watching a Christian husband My mentor models for God s direction, make a love his wife. My mentor and me what it means to love decision to follow it, and then others like him, though, have your wife as Christ loves the never look back. Even when served as my model. My mentor church (Eph. 5:25). That love is he is not clear where God is adores his wife, making certain sacrificial, but joy marks that leading, he trusts God so much she is a priority in his life. He sacrifice. It shares laughter, that even his uncertainty is opens the door for her, holds tears, questions, prayers, characterized by faith. To this her chair for her, and cares for delights, and pain; it is a life day, his ability to trust God at her when sickness strikes. They shared with another life, all for this level challenges me. pray together daily for their the glory of God. I suppose, of course, you might read these words and think my mentor is larger than life. He is not, and he would be the first to admit it. He is simply a forgiven man who wants to make sure all his life counts for God. That s the kind of man I want to be. Based on this article, what kind of person are you? Do you build everything on prayer? Do you seek God s will through His Word and His Spirit? Do you love your family openly? If someone modeled his or her life after yours in these areas, would you be pleased? 1 TIMOTHY 1:15 1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 CHUCK LAWLESS is the author This saying is trustworthy and Imitate me, as I also of Mentor: How Along-the-Way deserving of full acceptance: imitate Christ. Discipleship Will Change Your Life (LifeWay). He is dean of graduate Christ Jesus came into the studies at Southeastern Seminary world to save sinners and and serves as global theological I am the worst of them. education consultant at the International Mission Board. THE POINT As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. LIVE IT OUT Everybody leads in some capacity everybody. So how will you apply the truths from this passage to your own life and leadership? Acknowledge your role. Spend several minutes writing down the different areas of life in which you lead others or influence people. Own your role as a leader. Memorize. Recite Joshua 1:8 each day until you know it by heart. Allow its truth to strengthen and encourage you. Make connections. Connect with others who lead in the same places and in the same ways as you. Be intentional about giving and receiving support as you engage with others. Am I ready for this? It s okay to ask that question. We all feel overwhelmed at one time or another. Yet you don t have to be overwhelmed. You don t have to worry, either. God is in control and He is with you. Therefore, be strong and courageous. Lessons from a Mentor LEGACY LIVING Mentor Power Lessons from a Mentor I 48 Mature Living / september 2014 everything on prayer. 1Build 2 Seek God s will through His Word and His Spirit. ALL PHOTOS ISTOCKPHOTO your family openly. 3Love Humility + Obedience = A Good Mentor Mature Living / september 2014 49 I am writing this column about one week after I learned that one of my professional mentors has announced his retirement. As his friend and coworker, I have watched him live his faith in his home and in his ministry. He is for me what a mentor ought to be: someone who so walks with God that you want to be like him. I have learned so much from him that it s difficult to limit my comments, but here are three lessons he has taught me. To continue reading Lessons from a Mentor from Mature Living magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles. 16 SESSION 1
My g roup's prayer requests My thoughts 1. Teaching With Documents: Message Drafted by General Eisenhower in Case the D-Day Invasion Failed and Photographs Taken on D-Day, (http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/ d-day-message/) (Accessed on November 13, 2014). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 17