JOSHUA 1:10-18
LEADERS AND FOLLOWERS
In a Fast Company article, NBC news anchor Tom
Brokaw recalls:
"[As a child] I learned that it only takes one person and a little bit of courage to move a whole crowd. When I was in junior high school, there was a lot of horseplay going on in the locker room, and one of the guys broke through an exit door that had been nailed shut. All of the kids had to contribute $2 to pay for the shattered door. But my dad said that it shouldn't have been nailed shut in the first place and that I shouldn't pay the money. Everybody was kicking in their $2, and I had to stand up in class and say, "My family is not going to pay $2, because the school's at fault here." That was hard to do as a 12-year-old. But everybody saw that I was right, and the school ended up paying for the door." (Illustration Exchange) Tom Brokaw showed leadership.
"Nothing grows under a banyan tree." This South Indian proverb speaks of leadership styles. The banyan is a great tree. It spreads its branches, drops air-roots, develops secondary trunks and covers the land. A full grown banyan may cover more than an acre of land. Birds, animals, and humans find shelter under its shade. But nothing grows under its dense foliage, and when it dies, the ground beneath lies barren and scorched.
The banana tree is the opposite. Six months after it sprouts, small shoots appear around it. At twelve months a second circle of shoots appear beside the first ones, now six months old. At eighteen months the main trunk bears bananas which nourish birds, animals, and humans, and then it dies. But the first offspring are now full grown, and in six months they too bear fruit and die. The cycles continue unbroken as new sprouts emerge every six months, grow, give birth to more sprouts, bear fruit, and die.
Some leaders are like the banyan trees. They have great influence and their ministries are widely productive and beneficial. However, they do not prepare for the transitions which will allow for the emergence of other leaders. They only equip followers, not leaders. Layne A. Lebo. From the files of Leadership. Bible Illustrator 3.0
"A telegram was received by a famous-girls' school in which the father of the applicant, on observing the question, "outline the leadership capabilities of your daughter", responded by saying, "My daughter has no leadership capacities. However, she is an intelligent follower."
The president of the college telephoned the father directly and admitted his daughter to the college without qualification, stating that, of the thousands of applicants to the college, this was the first girl who was not a natural-born leader." Gene L. Schwilck in Indiana Teacher - Sourcebook for Speakers, page 161
When we think of great leaders we think of men and women of character and strong leadership ability. We must remember, however, that good leaders must have good followers or they will not be successful. Joshua was a good leader and he had many good followers.
Israel was planning to cross the Jordan River and conquer the Promised Land. Joshua as a good leader had to have everyone working with him for this to be accomplished.
This evening we want to consider
CHALLENGES FROM A GOOD LEADER Vss. 12-15
COMFORT FROM GOOD FOLLOWERS Vss. 16-18
Numbers 32:1-7, 16-22 - READ AND COMMENT
The tribes mentioned in verse 12 had settled on the other side of the Jordan River. They had, however promised to help with the conquering of the new land.
Joshua challenged them in three ways:
CHALLENGES FROM A GOOD LEADER Vss. 12-15
1. REMEMBER - Vs. 13
We all need reminders. Dottie and I are continually reminding each other of things that need to be done.
We constantly remind our children of their obligations and commitments.
At our church council meetings we constantly remind ourselves of things that need to be done by keeping minutes and bringing up old business.
God is constantly giving us reminders.
God reminds us through the beauties of creation that He is present.
Psalm 19:1 - The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
God reminds us through His Word of his love and our obligations to Him and others.
Matthew 22:37-40 - Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
At the Communion Table God reminds of the atonement for our sins performed by the Lord Jesus.
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 - For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: [24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. [25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Good leaders remind their followers. This is exactly what Joshua did. He reminded the tribes that had already received their land that they had made a commitment to lead the procession that would enter the Promised Land.
Good church leaders have the responsibility of reminding those who follow them.
2 Peter 1:12-15 - Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. [13] Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; [14] Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. [15]
Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
Peter said, "You know these things and you are established in the truth, however, I am going to continue to remind you."
Be thankful when a preacher repeats himself, telling you things he's told you before.
Be thankful when the preacher repeats himself even if it is truth that you are already practicing. It is his job to keep you reminded!
Peter said, "As long as I am alive, I will remind you."
And as long as I am your pastor, I will remind you of the truths of this book, even though they may be things you've heard hundreds of times.
The more you hear these truths, the more solidified they will be in your minds and hearts.
The first challenge from a good leader was to remember.
The second challenge from a good leader was to
2. RESPOND - Vs. 14
It was time for these people to keep their promises. They were to lead the procession into the promise land. He was telling them that it was time to respond to their previous promise by doing what they said they would.
They were to lead the Children of Israel into the Promised Land.
Joshua expected these people to respond by keeping their promises.
Keeping our promises is a very important thing.
Deuteronomy 23:21 - When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 - When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. [5] Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
According to Psalms 15:4, a righteous man "swears to his own hurt" and does not go back on his promise.
I can't tell you when it was, but I can tell you where it was.
It was a service at the Calvary Baptist Church in Pitman, New Jersey.
I can't tell you what the Pastor spoke about, but I can tell you that out of the blue at the end of the service I told the Lord I would be a minister. There was peace.
A while later I decided I wasn't pastor material. Eventually I ended up being a missionary with Child Evangelism. After about 3 years I began to struggle, wondering if the Lord wanted me to be a pastor.
I was a deacon in the church at this time, but did some speaking at other churches. One morning I was to teach Sunday School at another church. I was planning to stay there for church. The pastor told me I'd better come back if I was needed to serve communion. I wasn't needed for communion.
I was needed there to hear my pastor say, "If you've ever promised the Lord you'd do something, you'd better do it." There was my answer, I made a promise, I needed to keep it. And I'm here this evening as your pastor, because I kept that promise.
Whether my pastor knew it or not, he showed the quality of a good leader. A good leader, like Joshua, expects followers to keep their promises. Joshua expected these people to keep their promise of leading the procession into the Promised Land.
Don't be surprised when I expect you to keep your promises.
The first challenge from a good leader was to remember.
The second challenge from a good leader was to respond.
The third challenge from a good leader is
3. REWARD - Vs. 15
Joshua encouraged these tribes that they would return and enjoy the land which they had possessed. A good leader encourages his followers that there is reward for faithful obedience.
You might have had bosses that encouraged you with the rewards you would receive if you do a good job.
You have rewarded your children for good behavior and for good performance in school. In our house, good report cards were rewarded.
As leaders, pastors have the privilege of offering God's incentives to people.
Usually, when we think of God rewarding us, we think of the rewards that we'll receive in the "sweet bye and bye", and we will receive them.
2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
But remember, there are not only rewards in the "sweet bye and bye" but in the "nasty now and now."
For instance, I can tell you that if you are filled with the Holy Spirit you will:
1. Have power to witness
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
2. Have continuous attitudes of praise, thanksgiving, and submission.
Ephesians 5:18-21 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; [20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; [21] Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
3. Have the fruit of the Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
As a leader, I can also tell you that there are rewards for training your children properly.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 29:17 - Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
There are also rewards for keeping your priorities straight.
Psalm 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
There are also rewards for praying properly.
1 John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: [15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
So Joshua shows us some
CHALLENGES FROM A GOOD LEADER Vss. 12-15
The first challenge from a good leader was to remember.
The second challenge from a good leader was to respond.
The third challenge from a good leader is reward.
COMFORT FROM GOOD FOLLOWERS Vss. 16-18
Not only should good leaders inspire their followers, but also good followers should inspire their leaders. The response of these people was an encouragement to Joshua.
1. THEY EXPRESSED OBEDIENCE - Vss. 16-17
These people told Joshua that they would obey his rule.
These people told Joshua that they would obey him the way they had obeyed the previous leader, Moses.
Down through the years, many people have encouraged me as a pastor. Many of you have encouraged me as a pastor.
The greatest encouragement of all, is when God's people do what God's Word says to do. When God's people chose to obey the teaching of the Word of God, I am delighted.
¨ When I preach about forgiveness and people forgive, I am encouraged.
¨ When I preach about baptism, and people decide to be baptized, I am encouraged.
¨ When I preach about dedicating one's life to Christ, and people dedicate their lives to Christ, I am encouraged.
¨ When I preach about doing good works for Christ's sake, and people do good works, I am encouraged.
¨ When I give Biblical counsel and people follow the counsel, I am encouraged.
And on and on we could go.
Hebrews 13:17 - Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
THEY EXPRESSED OBEDIENCE
2. THEY ENFORCED THE RULES - Vs. 18a
They promised to discipline those who would not cooperate. It is an encouraging to leaders when followers help to enforce the rules among other followers.
I am thankful for our church council. There are times when the church council supports me in decisions that need to be made for the good of the church. A few months ago, I made a decision, explained why I made the decision, and the council supported me on it, and even came up with a way of me doing it, without causing any hurt feelings.
As Christians, we are expected to enforce God's rules for the church.
Matthew 18:15-18 - Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. [18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Galatians 6:1 - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
THEY EXPRESSED OBEDIENCE
THEY ENFORCED THE RULES
3. THEY EXPECTED SOMETHING FROM THE LEADER - Vss. 17b, 18b
Vs. 17b - They wished him the Lord's best.
They actually wanted him to be as successful as his
predecessor.
A lot of times followers, for one reason or another, do not want leaders to be successful. They don't want leaders to achieve.
We are good followers when we want to make the leader look good. When the leader succeeds, it means that the followers have succeeded also.
Vs. 18b - They expected something from Joshua.
He was to be strong and courageous.
The people expected Joshua to do His job and to do it
with conviction.
You and I should expect the best from our leaders.
And when we expect folks to do their best we can be an encouragement to them.
Sometimes it is good for us to express to a leader our support and to encourage him to do his best.
FOLLOWERS AND LEADERS
CHALLENGES FROM A GOOD LEADER Vss. 12-15
Remember
Respond
Reward
COMFORT FROM GOOD FOLLOWERS Vss. 16-18
THEY EXPRESSED OBEDIENCE
THEY ENFORCED THE RULES
THEY EXPECTED SOMETHING FROM THE LEADER