Class Lesson June 21, 2015

It’s time to lead. Be strong and courageous.

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.

We learned in the first lesson last week to Accept Your Leadership Role and as you lead, submit to God’s authority and direction.

 

This week we will look at how we can...

Be Confident in God’s Power

                                                                                               ...when we lead. 

When was the last time you jumped outside your comfort zone.

 

"I wanna jump!"
 

Watching as others jumped from a large rock that towered above the lake, my 9-year old son was eager to do it himself. I'm not a fan of heights, but my son wanted to jump. As his father, I needed to lead him to the top of the rock - and jump with him to ensure he would be safe. Our turn came. I hesitated, but my son took a flying leap. I watched him fall safely into the water. I knew it was my time, so I went for it. Ultimately, the experience was a thrill for us both. You may also know what it's like to take a jump outside your comfort zone - to do something you've never done before. 

Do you hesitate in those moments? Or do you take a flying leap?

Joshua had a difficult challenge to lead his people across the flooded Jordan River into the land God had promised them. This was a significant test for Joshua, the newly installed leader after Moses' death. We can learn much from Joshua's response to this challenge as we seek to lead well outside of our comfort zone.

The Point in This Week's Lesson:

 “Lead from a position of confidence in God.” 

I. Listen!


Joshua 3:7-8

7 The LORD spoke to Joshua: “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they will know that I will be with you just as I was with Moses. 8 Command the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant: When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.” 

God gave Joshua an encouraging promise: "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they will know that I will be with you just as I was with Moses" (3:7). Long before, the people had affirmed Moses as their leader because they recognized God was present with him. Now, God would "exalt" Joshua to show that his leadership would also be marked by God's presence and power. Joshua could lead with confidence because he had listened to what God said about him earlier: "I will be with you, just as I was with Moses" (1:5). God was reaffirming His earlier promise.


God gave Joshua instructions for the next step: “Command the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant: When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan” (v. 8). These were not ordinary instructions. In fact, they were kind of strange. Yet Joshua demonstrated his faith and trust in God by obeying the command he received. Joshua had seen God at work in the past (see Ex. 13:21-22); therefore, he had confidence that God would again do something marvelous.

Listening is a vital component of leadership. Yet there's danger when we listen to the wrong voices:

• If we think too highly of our own abilities, of our own voice, we can become overconfident.
• Conversely, if we downgrade our unique gifts, leadership skills, or opportunities, we can end up in a self-induced paralysis of despair.
• If we take to heart the comparisons or criticisms of others, we can respond in arrogance or become discouraged. 

As leaders, we should never listen to these voices - even our own voice - more than we listen to God. Instead, listen to the heart of God who desires to see you walk wisely and finish faithfully. Remember that God's desire is for you to "prosper and succeed" (1:8) in carrying out your task. Listen to the promise of God to go with you and give you courage (1:9).

Most importantly, listen to the words of God as they give you guidance each day. That's the best source of confidence for any leader.

What makes you feel confident?

 

II. Communicate!

Joshua 3:9-13

9 Then Joshua told the Israelites, “Come closer and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” 10 He said: “You will know that the living God is among you and that He will certainly dispossess before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites 11 when the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth goes ahead of you into the Jordan. 12 Now choose 12 men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. 13 When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, come to rest in the Jordan’s waters, its waters will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will stand up in a mass.”



Joshua told his people everything God had spoken to him. This is an important reminder regardless of who you lead. All of us - parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, supervisors, business leaders, and pastors - should make it our aim to connect people to the heart and words of God more than our own. We are Christ's representatives to the people He's put in front of us. We must allow His plans to become the plans of the people we lead and serve.

Notice how Joshua's words revealed his confidence in God. Earlier, God promised that nobody would be able to stop the Israelites from entering the Promised Land (see 1:5). Joshua stood boldly on this promise when he said: "You will know that the living God is among you and that He will certainly dispossess before you" the current inhabitants of the land (3:10).

Joshua didn't try to soften God's promise or add a caveat. He spoke confidently. Therefore, when the Israelites saw the promise come true, they would know God was present and active on their behalf.

The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence and glory of God among His people. The ark was so special and so revered that no one could even touch it. As the people reached the Jordan River, the ark was to move ahead of them. When the priests carrying the ark on wooden poles stepped into the water, God's power would cause the rushing river to stop and "stand up in mass" (v. 13), creating a way for the people to cross. While God's words provided a road map and instructions of where to go and what to do, God's presence would provide the means to carry it out.

When you are called to step into your own Jordan River -- to step out of your comfort zone -- you can do so confidently when you trust God. Trusting God's words and seeking God's presence will give rise to godly confidence in your life.


Joshua expressed confidence in God. How can we express confidence in God even when we don't have all the answers?


How do we experience God's presence today?



III. Obey!


Joshua 3:14-17

14 When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the Ark of the Covenant ahead of the people. 15 Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge 16 and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a mass that extended as far as Adam, a city next to Zarethan. The water flowing downstream into the Sea of the Arabah (the Dead Sea) was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 The priests carrying the ark of the LORD’s covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

The wonderful news for the Israelites was that they didn't need to apply a lot of effort in order to follow God's plan. Instead, they simply needed to listen and obey in order to see God's plan come about. Verses 15 - 16 sum up their simple execution of God's instructions: "As soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at it's edge and the water flowing downstream stood still."

This must have been a powerful lesson for everyone involved. This was a moment worth remembering, which is why God told Joshua to take 12 stones out of the Jordan as a continual reminder of what He had done (see Josh. 4:1-10).

Obedience to what God says can seem unnatural or untimely in the eyes of others. Some of the people may have tried to influence Joshua's leadership, or he could have been tempted to have thoughts like these:

• Surely we can find another way across the river.
• Why don't we wait for the flooded river to subside?
• Let's send a team over first to see if God's plan works.

But Joshua listened to God, stepped out confidently based on what He had instructed, and led the people to do the same. When we listen to what God has said and move forward in His presence, He will provide the direction we need. Even more, He will equip us to lead confidently.

How can we demonstrate confidence in God in a way that leads others to follow and obey?

LIVE IT OUT

How will you express confidence in God this week and in the week's to come? Consider the following suggestions for getting started:

• Look for God's promises. As you engage God's Word this week, highlight or write down any promises you find. Trusting in what God has promised is a great way to gain confidence.
• Get feedback. Ask those you lead or influence to evaluate what you're communicating through your leadership. Assess whether the leadership you provide comes from the heart and words of God or from your own ideas.
• Speak boldly. When opportunities present themselves, be bold in proclaiming the truth of God's promises. Be confident that others will benefit from the Scriptures, as you do.

When you confidently trust what God has told you, you can jump. You can take a flying leap! Because He is with you.

Prayer of Commitment

Father, may I never become so self-reliant that I forget that Your presence is my greatest leadership asset and You alone are my greatest source of confidence. Amen.



The Jordan River crossing message - you should read:

The First Step is to Get Your Feet Wet

Joshua 3:7-17

If you have ever spent any time in the wilderness of life then you have probably spent time thinking about the Promised Land; that place where life will be better, more settled, easier.

Each one of us could tell a story of life in the wilderness. It is that place where life is just difficult. It is a struggle to just get up each morning and make it through the day. In the wilderness we walk and walk and walk, and get nowhere. Then we discover we have been walking in circles. No matter what we do progress eludes us. You feel lost, confused, and not sure which way to go or what to do. In the wilderness it takes all your effort to just survive. The wilderness of life is large and overwhelming. We by comparison feel small and vulnerable. Life in the wilderness is exhausting. In the wilderness you have to face up to yourself and your life. There is no place to hide.

We all have some idea of what the Promised Land will be like. Our Promised Land generally corresponds to our wilderness experience. So for most of us the Promised Land is either a return to the way things were before, back in the good old days, or it is a jump forward into an idealized future. Either way we want to escape the wilderness. So for those who wander in the wilderness of deep sorrow, loss, and tears the Promised Land might be a place of joy, where memories no longer cripple, tears no longer flow, and enthusiasm for life returns. For those who know the wilderness of loneliness the Promised Land is a place of relationship, acceptance, and belonging. In the wilderness of fear the Promised Land is about security, control, predictability. In the wilderness of unhappiness we long for a Promised Land of fulfillment and meaning. Sometimes the wilderness is simply about moving, changing, and growing. Even though those are good things, sought out, and welcomed the way can still be hard, tiring, and perilous. If the wilderness is about survival then the Promised Land holds before us the image of living, really living.

Most of the time we want to escape the wilderness. If we could have our way we would probably like God to pluck us out of the wilderness and set us down in the Promised Land. That’s not how it works. God does not rescue or save us from the circumstances of our lives. Instead, God goes through those circumstances with us. For every wilderness there is a Promised Land; and for every Promised Land there is a River Jordan that must be crossed.

The Jordan River is the boundary between the wilderness and the Promised Land. It is the obstacle standing between us and the Promised Land. Joshua has led the Israelites to the Jordan River. The Promised Land is in sight. Four hundred years of slavery and forty years of wilderness wandering have brought them to the edge. They have hoped, walked, suffered, prayed, talked, cried, trusted, regretted, sinned, and whined their way to this moment.

What do they see? A river in flood stage, overflowing its banks. There is no low water crossing in sight. The river is 150 miles long. They cannot go around it. There are no bridges. They cannot go over it. The way is blocked. The river is impassable. This is neither a good time nor a good place to cross. More often than not that is how our River Jordan looks. We forget, however, that this is not our time or place. God has chosen and brought Israel to this time and place even as God chooses and brings us to the time and place for our river crossings. The only way across the river is through the river.

We never go alone. God himself goes into the river. He is, let us not forget, the God of water crossings. He was there as Noah drifted across the flood waters that swept away the old and receded to reveal a new world, a new life, a new relationship. He wrestled with Jacob in the night, blessed and renamed him, and then watched him limp across the Jabbok River with a new identity, Israel. He called his people out of bondage in Egypt and through the Red Sea to a journey of salvation. Every crossing is an act of God’s faithfulness.

We each have a Jordan River that must be crossed and usually more than one. It seems that the life of faith is a series of water crossings. The Jordan River, however, is not a geographical feature. It is a part of our inner landscape. Crossing the Jordan, entering the Promised Land, will not change the circumstances of our lives. It changes us, and that changes everything.

Like Israel we stand at the edge of the Jordan. The only way into the Promised Land is through the flood waters of life. How deep is it? How solid is the bottom? Is it slippery? Is the water cold? How strong is the current? How far across is the river? What will I find on the other side? All good questions. In some way those are the questions of life, the questions that arise every time we make a move, whether geographical, emotional, or spiritual. They are not, however, questions that get answered before we step into the river of new life. Ultimately, it is God not the answers that takes us across our Jordan.

God, however, did not hold back the water for Israel before they put their feet in. It is only after they stepped into the water that God acted. The waters do not part until we step out in faith, until our feet are dipped in that impassable river. God can only work with what we give Him. Standing on the bank waiting for answers, waiting for a better time and place, or waiting for the flood to subside offers God nothing with which to work. God will not act, the river will rage, and we will remain stuck. That first step, however, gives God something to work with.

One step is all it takes. One step. As soon as Israel’s feet were “dipped in the edge of the water” God acted, the flowing waters stood still, there was dry land, and all the people crossed over. With that one step we follow the ark of God’s presence into the Jordan.

We all have that one step, that first step, that needs to be taken. Take that first step and you have offered God something with which to work. The flood waters of your life will be parted, dry land will be revealed, and the way forward will be opened to you.

What is that first step for you? There are as many first steps as there are circumstances of life. Maybe the first step is to offer another forgiveness and reconciliation. Maybe your one step is to let go of anger or resentment. Maybe your life is unmanageable and that first step is just one of twelve. Sometimes the first step is to simply be quiet, be still, and listen. Perhaps yours is to let go of having to be right or in control. Maybe it means you no longer let fear dominate your life. Perhaps the first step for you is to risk intimacy and vulnerability. Maybe that one step is taking responsibility for your life. I do not know your first step but I trust that God does. I do not know when or how you will cross your Jordan but I know it happens one step at a time and that first step always takes us to a new land, to a new way of being, and to a new life, God’s life. Step out in faith. Get your feet wet.

Be Confident in God’s Power

The Point

Lead from a position of confidence in God.

The Setting

After lengthy wilderness wanderings brought on by their ancestors’ decision to fear the inhabitants of the Promised Land rather than to fear the Lord, the children of Israel once again stood on the brink of the land God had promised to Abraham and his descendants. To take possession of the land they only needed to cross the Jordan River, while it was at flood stage.


How would this generation respond to this opportunity?


Would they be paralyzed by fear as the previous generation, or would they follow Joshua and move forward with confidence in God’s power?


When have you taken a leap of faith?

 Click Here to Watch

The scariest part about taking a leap of faith is often the very first moment. God knows that stepping out of our comfort zone will make us feel uncomfortable. But He assures us that His power is sufficient.


This was a significant test for Joshua because he had just become the leader of God’s people. He was brand new to leadership. Joshua’s response teaches us how to lead well when we’re outside our comfort zone.




I. Listen! The word from the Lord is to be heard, shared, and obeyed.

Joshua 3:7-8


Our ability to lead is impacted by the people we listen to. Be careful who you listen to because:

• If we think too highly of our own abilities, we can become arrogant.
• If we downplay our gifts, leadership skills, or opportunities, we can end up discouraged or depressed.
• If we take to heart the comparisons or criticisms of others, we can respond pride fully or become discouraged.

What makes you feel confident?


Never listen to yourself or someone else more than you listen to God. God’s voice is always truthful and can see everything as it really is. Listen to the words of God as they give you guidance. That’s the best source of confidence.



Point: A leader’s greatest asset is the Lord’s presence in His life.


II. Communicate! Those given a word from the Lord are to communicate that word with others.

Joshua 3:9-13


Joshua lived out his confidence in God.


How can we live out our confidence in God even when we don't have all the answers?


The Ark of the Covenant is the centerpiece of the crossing of the Jordan River. Why? What does the ark represent to the Israelites? What was God telling the people by having the ark go ahead of them into the river?


The Ark of the Covenant represented God's presence with the Israelites.



How can we experience God's presence today?



Voices

We all have people who impact our lives. Who impacts your life? Be honest with yourself. Write the names of the most influential voices in your life and why they have this position of influence.



Point: The Lord will not fail His people and will give them victory as they act in faith.



III. Obey!

Joshua 3:14-17


God equips us with all we need to lead well when we listen to Him and step out in faith and trust.

The Israelites needed to listen and obey to see God’s plan work out. “As soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge and the water flowing downstream stood still” (vv. 15-16).


Obedience to what God says can feel strange. Some may have tried to influence Joshua’s leadership, or he could have been tempted to have thoughts like these:

• Surely we can find another way across the river.
• Why don’t we wait for the flooded river to subside?
• Let’s send a team over first to see if God’s plan works.

Joshua listened to God. He stepped out on the instructions God had given him and led the people to do the same. When we listen to what God has said and move forward in faith and trust, He will provide the direction we need, and He will equip us to lead confidently.



How can we demonstrate confidence in God in a way that leads others to trust Him?


Point: The time comes when we must decide if we believe God enough to act on His word.


Describe the relationship between God and Joshua in these verses. What does God do for Joshua? Why does He do these things? What does Joshua do for God? What is the impact of this relationship upon the people? What can we learn from this passage concerning the leaders of our church?



LIVE IT OUT

How will you express confidence in God this week?


1. Put a foot in the water. Identify a task you’ve been putting off and commit to take one small step to begin. You’ll likely find that the next steps aren’t as difficult as you imagined. Like the children of Israel crossing the Jordan, it all begins with putting a foot in the water.

2. Listen to the right voice. If there is an area of your life where you are outside your comfort zone, identify whose voice you are listening to most and what it is saying. Is it your own voice of doubt, guilt, or worry? Are other voices bringing fear? Apply God’s Word about who He is. Listen well and trust well.

3. Get feedback. Ask friends and family what kind of leader they think you are. Is the leadership you’re providing from the heart and Word of God or your own ideas? Feedback and reflection can help you stay on God’s path for yourself and for those you lead.



Through faith in God’s power Israel crossed Jordan into the land of their destiny. We too have our Jordan’s to cross as we achieve God’s will for our lives. Marching, we see what appears to be a brick wall blocking our way. If we stop, it is a wall. If we keep walking by faith in God, we will find the wall is a mirage, is made of tissue paper that gives way to our walk of faith, or that by His power it is removed altogether.



Your Biggest Challenge

Think about the biggest challenge God can give you. Is it bigger than crossing the Red Sea or the Jordan River? Think about the most successful leader you might follow. Is that leader more successful than Moses? Can God put you in any position where He cannot sustain you? Can He call you to any task for which He cannot empower you? Can God send you anywhere He cannot find you?


The answer to all these questions is “no.” Therefore, we can be confident in God’s complete power to do in and through us all He desires.



Whatever your biggest challenge is in leadership today, God will see you through!



Hope to see you this Sunday!


In His Love,


David & Susan