RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

There have been three specific seasons in my life and ministry. I spent the first ten years of my ministry as a youth evangelist. It was a great walk of faith. My wife and I trusted God to meet all our needs. We asked no man for anything, but trusted God for everything. He was faithful in every instance to provide all we needed. During the second season of my life, I was a pastor. Although I was still living by faith, it was not the same as my ministry in youth evangelism. I was salaried by a church and rested relatively sure that my paycheck would be there every week.
At the close of that period, God began to speak to me about returning to itinerate evangelism. But I had become financially comfortable in my church. I knew I would once again have to step out in faith. Earlier in my life I had seen God provide in remarkable ways. I knew He would do it again. But I still had to take that one step of faith and resign from my church. It was a defining moment. I made the decision and have never looked back. God has been faithful through these past decades to meet every need of my family.
Thousands of years ago, Joshua had also seen God move mightily. He was there when God parted the Red Sea. He watched Moses, the man of God, miraculously lead the people out of Egypt. Now Joshua had to take a step of faith. It was a new season for him. He had to lead the people to cross the Jordan River. It must have been awesome. It was certainly a defining moment in Joshua’s life and leadership.
God spoke to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river’” (Joshua 3:7, 8). This was perhaps the greatest test in Joshua’s leadership. He couldn’t depend on the faith of Moses. He would have to trust God. He could no longer lean on his mentor and friend. He had to lead the people in a walk of faith. He held the mantle of leadership. It was trust God or die in the wilderness. Joshua trusted God.
We can see several lesson of leadership in the life of Joshua. First, spiritual leadership demands that we walk by faith. Leadership can be lonely. But the man God trusts that God will be with Him. He may tremble at the task before him, but he has a deep conviction that God will lead him through the troubled waters. It’s this assurance that enables him to take that step of faith.
Second, when Joshua took that great step of faith, God exalted him. Joshua didn’t exalt himself, but God exalted him. The leader who exalts himself will eventually be brought low by God. But the leader who humbles himself will be exalted by God. Faith is a byproduct of humility. Faith grows in a humble heart because a heart of humility depends wholly on God.
Finally, a spiritual leader will unashamedly call God’s people to absolute surrender toGod’s will: “Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you’” (Joshua 3:5). Joshua knew that God’s work must be done God’s way. It was not enough to simply step out in faith. Joshua had to lead the people to do the will of God in the way of God. That’s true spiritual leadership.