RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

God wanted Joshua to never forget the great things He had done. But He also wanted Joshua to know he couldn’t live on yesterday’s triumphs. He needed to experience a daily encounter with God. It was necessary to taste the mercies of God every morning. God had opened the Jordan River and allowed the children of Israel to cross into the Promised Land. He had worked signs, wonders, and miracles. But Joshua and the children of Israel still had battles to fight and enemies to conquer.
So 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).
There were several lessons Joshua needed to learn before he could be used fully by God. First, he needed to know he must trust in the Lord 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 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. Joshua had to know that he wasn’t the ultimate authority. He must know intimately and submit to the Captain of Captains and the King of Kings. During my ministry, I’ve had the privilege of knowing a few generals. There’s one thing I know about great military leaders. They’re not born that way. They all at one time were 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 on holy men. Read the lives of the great men and women of the Bible. When God revealed Himself to them, often they had to remove their sandals 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 in those seminars anything about holiness. Godly character is the foundation for positive, lasting leadership. Spiritual leadership rises and falls on holiness. When Joshua realized he was standing in the presence of the Holy One of Israel, he fell on his face in 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.