The Joshua Generation

Specific Objectives

At the end of the session, the assembly the participants are expected to:

1. Realize that they have been called and chosen by the Lord.

2. Value the moments in their lives that God used to prepare them to answer His call.

3. Commit to keep God’s anointing by keeping His presence, commandment, and words in their lives.

Expanded Outline

I. Introduction

We are on our 40th year as a community, and as they say, it takes 40 years to call a group of people a generation. Thus, we are the next generation of evangelizers, witnesses, servant leaders and missionaries the Lord in our community. That is why it is time for our generation to stand up. Especially, now that we are celebrating the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.

In the Bible, there are a lot of characters that we will find who have stepped up to answer God’s call and serve Him. We have heard of Abraham, Isaac, Noah, Moses, Jacob, David, Solomon, etc. They are real people living different kinds of lives, but if there is a common denominator among them, all of them received a special calling from the Lord. All were chosen for a special purpose. And when God called each of them, their lives were changed forever. They were never the same people again.

This is also true for Joshua. He was God’s chosen one to succeed Moses in leading the people of Israel. He was the one who crossed the Jordan River with the Israelites to reach the Promise Land. He is the one who is called to lead the new generation.

II. God’s Chosen People

A. The Moses Generation

Moses was truly chosen by God! He used him powerfully to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Through him God has done great and mighty deeds for His chosen people. Yet there comes a time when someone need to take his place in leading God’s people.

When he realizes that the time has come for him to be replace, he prayed to the Lord that He would “set over the community someone who will be their leader in battle and who will lead them out and bring them in, that the LORD’s community may not be like sheep without a shepherd (Numbers 27:16-17).”

And the Lord answered, “Take Joshua, son of Nun, a man of spirit, and lay your hand upon him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole community, and commission him in their sight. Invest him with some of your own power, that the whole Israelite community may obey him (Numbers 27:18-20).”

The Moses Generation are the generation that started our community. They are our pioneers, mentors, and servant-leaders. Through them we have seen how God has done great things not only in our community but more so to the lives of thousands of people whom the Lord has touch through them. They are the one who work had to fulfill the vision and service of our community. They are the one who work through sweat, blood, and tears to build up our community. They have led us from glory to glory that is why we are where we are right now.

Yet they too realize that they need someone to eventually take on the role of leading God’s people. And when that time has come, they too prayed to the Lord that He might send someone to continue the work and God led them to us!

B. The Joshua Generation

If you think about it, we who are actively serving the Lord through our community now is the Joshua Generation. God has chosen all of us so that His people may not be like sheep without a shepherd. Just like how Joshua continued the service that was given by God to Moses. We too are called to continue the service of our community so that we can conquer more territories, encourage our brethren to keep their covenant and to deepen their relationship with God. Through us, God will allow our community to experience greater things than what the older generation had witness. All we need to do is to step up!

III. Prepared to Lead

Yes! All that we need to do is to step up! Yet, you may think that you are unworthy or that you do not deserve this. You may also feel inferior to your brethren in our chapter. For those who have been serving for quite some time, you may have lost your ardor and you may have been burnt out for all the services you rendered all these years. BUT WHEREVER YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, WHATEVER THE STATE OF YOUR HEART IS, KNOW THAT GOD HAS PREPARED AND CONTINUE TO PREPARE YOU TO ANSWER THIS CALL.

God has prepared us to serve in the same way that God prepared Joshua to lead. Let us look at the following key moments of Joshua’s life and see how God has prepared him:

• He was chosen to lead the army (Ex 17:8-16)

• He was Moses’ assistant (Ex 24:12-13)

• He saw what displeases God (Ex 32:17-19)

• He saw how to speak to the Lord (Ex 33:11)

• He was a scout to the Promise Land (Nb 13:1-2;8)

Joshua was chosen to be a young general to lead an army. He was a young assistant to Moses who was privileged to witness God’s revelation at Mt. Sinai and at the tent even if he was not one of the elders. He was being trained by Moses in the way he communicates with the Lord. He was chosen to be a spy in the Promise Land. He was one of the two who survived in the end. All these key moments in his life prepared him for his call – to succeed Moses, to lead God’s people in crossing the Jordan River to reach Canaan, and to win battles to take possession of the Promise Land.

Note: The speaker need not elaborate the key moments in Joshua’s life. He/she should deliver it like he/she is narrating a story and as he / she narrate is, he / she should relate it on how he / she was prepared by the Lord to lead.

In the same way, God has prepared you to serve and lead in our community. You may not realize it, but if you look closely at the different moments in your life, you will realize that God allowed all of it to happen for you to be who you are now, for you to be where you are now. They all happened so that you can be the servant that God wants you to be.

IV. Anointed to Lead

“No one can withstand you as long as you live. As I was with Moses, I will be with you: I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and steadfast, so that you may give this people possession of the land I swore to their ancestors that I would give them. Only be strong and steadfast, being careful to observe the entire law which Moses my servant enjoined on you. Do not swerve from it either to the right or to the left, that you may succeed wherever you go. Do not let this book of the law depart from your lips. Recite it by day and by night, that you may carefully observe all that is written in it; then you will attain your goal; then you will succeed. I command you be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5-9

God does not only prepared Joshua, but He also anointed him! He called Joshua and equipped him. He provided all the graces and skills that he needed for what he was to do as the leader of Israel; and He promised to be with Him.

God said “I will be with you; I will not fail you…” This promise is a reminder that despite the many challenges along the way and the many conflicts which we might encounter in our service, God will always be with us and because of Him, we will overcome. Thus, it is important for us to always be with the Lord. Now, how can we keep our anointing and draw closer to the Lord? We just need to follow God’s instruction to Joshua:

• Keep His Presence (Joshua 1:1-5)

God promise victory to Joshua if he remains in Him. Thus, Joshua makes sure that he is never far away from the Lord. We too were promised to live a life of victory if we are in the Lord. Thus, we need to maintain God’s presence in our lives and protect it from anything that can prevent it from shining in us. It should be a priority for us then to discover ways on how we can grow God’s presence in us.

• Keep His Commandments (Joshua 1:7)

God promise victory to Joshua if he keeps His commandments. Thus, Joshua is careful in everything he says and do so that he might not violate the law of God. We too are called to live a life of freedom if we keep the Lord’s commandments. Thus, we need to be faithful in our covenant with the Lord for it is by living out our covenant can we be sure of following the Lord. It should be a priority for us then to keep our covenant with the Lord and live according to His law.

• Keep His Word (Joshua 1:8)

God promise victory to Joshua if he keeps His words. Thus, Joshua makes sure that he has the Word of God in his heart. We too need to learn how to keep it in our hearts and mind so that we will never lose our way. We must allow scriptures to guide our actions and decisions. It should be a priority for us to meditate on God’s Word day and night.

Note: The speaker will challenge the participants to decide for themselves on how on they can grow in keeping God’s presence, commandment, and words.

Keeping our anointing by pursuing holiness is difficult but it is not impossible. We just need to be honest with the Lord and ask for His grace and for sure He will come to us and will keep us close to Him.

V. Conclusion

God’s call is real. He is the one who called you. You are the one who is called. Believe in your heart that you are called. Believe that every episode of your life is a preparation for what you are about to face. You have been prepared by God for this calling and service. It is now time to claim your anointing by keeping His presence, commandments, and words in you. Be fearless for the Lord your God is with you!