Therefore, it was imperative for Joshua to have a fresh meeting with God. In an unexpected moment, God revealed Himself to Joshua. The Bible says, "Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies."

"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"

The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so (Joshua 5:13 - 15 NIV).

There were several lessons that Joshua needed to learn before he could be used fully by God. First, he needed to know that he must trust in the Lord during every day and in every battle. He couldn't coast on yesterday's victories. He needed God in a fresh way every day.

Second, Joshua needed to learn that the only way in which we can lead God's people into battle is to be led by the Captain of the Lord of hosts. Spiritual leaders are great followers. He had to know that he wasn't the bottom line person. He wasn't the ultimate authority. He must know intimately and submit to the Captain of Captains and the King of Kings. I have had the privilege of knowing a few Generals in my life time. There's one thing that I know about great military leaders. They're not born that way. They all were at one time great followers. They didn't inherit their positions. They came up through the ranks. If this is true in the physical world, then how much more is it true in the spiritual world. Joshua had to know in the depths of his heart that the Captain of God's army was his leader.

But Joshua also needed to know that spiritual leadership depends upon holy men. Read the lives of the great men and women of the Scripture. When God revealed Himself to them, often they had to take their sandals off their feet because they were standing on holy ground. To be in the presence of God is to be in the presence of holiness.

I often hear seminars on leadership, but seldom hear anything about the subject of holiness in those seminars. Godly character is the foundation for positive, lasting leadership. Spiritual leadership rises and falls on holiness. When Joshua realized that he was standing in the presence of the Holy One of Israel, he fell on his face in awe and reverence.

God's method of leadership has not changed. He still uses humble, holy men and women. There are battles to be fought and wars to be waged, but they must be won from the position of holiness.