Joshua: The Servant Made Leader

Saturday 18 April
READ: Exo 33: 11
MORE LESSON: Exo 24: 9 - 18

Moses was a man of God in a class of his own. The kinds of divine encounter and miracle that Moses experienced are rare in any other man on earth. When Moses died, God had to bury him by Himself so that no man knows his tomb. That was necessary because men would have turned his tomb to an object of worship (Deut 34:5-6). Indeed, Moses was an exceptional man of God. After Moses died, God needed a replacement for Him. God could have chosen any of the leaders and princes of Israel to step into Moses shoes but He chose the young man, Joshua whom the people didn't see as a leader but as simply 'Moses' servant (Num 11:28). There was a secret that took Joshua to greatness, and that secret is service.

Service gives a man the opportunity to encounter the greatness that he could not have encountered by himself. All the while when Moses was experiencing divine encounters with God, there was a silent figure that enjoyed these encounters with him – Joshua was present as a servant, experiencing the supernatural with Moses. Even in the legendary encounter when God spoke to Moses face to face, Joshua was there.

So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he (Moses) would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle: Exo. 33:11-12 (NKJV) Everybody talks about how Moses saw God but we forget that there was a silent servant that humbly followed him about and so was with him when he saw God.

Also, when Moses went up the mountain for forty days and was enveloped by the glory of God to receive the tablets of the law, his servant Joshua was there with him (Ex 24: 13 – 18). Even though Aaron and his sons were the priests and there were seventy elders that were ordained by Moses, it was Joshua, who didn't have any title, that had the opportunity to go up the mountain to encounter God. He didn't deserve to be there; he entered as a servant. He saw it all silently as he followed Moses around so he knew the ‘in and out’ of the work of the Lord. No wonder he later became a miracle worker too and when it was time for someone to lead Israel into the Promised Land, God told Moses to lay hands on him. Joshua went ahead to record great exploits and even succeeded where Moses had failed. Joshua was an ordinary servant who became an extraordinary leader. That is the benefit of service. You can decide to serve today and you will see God take you to the extraordinary place.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to help you never to turn away from any God-given assignment.
* Pray that whatever God has done for others by service He will do also for you.
* Pray that you will not be slothful in business, but fervent in the spirit serving the Lord.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today is the day of my advance in grace and glory.

God’s Five Purposes for every Believer

Thursday 16 April
READ: Rom. 8:28; Eph. 3:11 MORE LESSONS: Eph. 1:11

There are responsibilities to meet and privileges to enjoy as members of the Church. The responsibilities include:

(I) God wants you to be a member of His family, to have fellowship with Him and with one another. Following Christ is not just a matter of believing, it also involves belonging and living in cordial relationship with one another (I Pet. 1:3; Eph. 2:19).

(ii) God wants you to be a model of His character through discipleship; be like Christ in character (I Pet. 2:21). Maturity is not measured by one's learning but by one's lifestyle.

(iii) God wants you to be a minister of His grace (service or ministry) and to use the gifts, talents and opportunities He gives you to benefit others (I Pet. 4:10; Eph. 2:10).

(iv) God wants you to be a messenger of His love through evangelism (Acts 20:24; II Cor. 5:19-20). In fact, our mission here on earth is to tell others about Christ.

(v) God wants you to be a magnifier of His name in worship (Psa. 34:3). Each of us has a personal responsibility to worship God (Exo. 20:3) and not our job, family, money, property etc. God’s children are to be thankful for these responsibilities and privileges, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful: Col. 3:15.

Privileges of Believers
Spiritual and emotional benefits accrue from fulfilling the purposes mentioned above. Some of the privileges are:
(I) Worship helps people to focus on God.
(ii) Fellowship helps one to face life’s problems.
(iii) Discipleship helps to fortify one's faith.
(iv) Ministry helps one to find one's talents.
(v) Evangelism helps men fulfil their mission.

You were created for His purpose and may you discover and fulfil God's purpose for your life.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for a clear vision of your purpose in life.
* Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your steps to God’s plan for your life.
* Pray that you will not live a wasted life but a God-filled destiny.
** What do you know is God’s definite purpose for your life? How much of your time do you invest in it? Definite purpose is the key to a fruitful life.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
In the name of Jesus, I revoke and turn into blessing, every curse pronouncedupon my life; from now on, I shall be unstoppable.

Flee Fornication

Wednesday 15 April
READ: Eph.5:21-23
MORE LESSONS: I Cor. 6:9-10

Purity of life is one great priority of God. He ordained marriage to, among others, prevent immorality and every sexual sin. Sexual immorality is one of the most grievous sins; it almost ruined the nation of Israel. God in His anger burst out, …let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them….: Exo. 32:10. The Israelites pushed God to the wall when they engaged in immorality and God was ready to change His plan of taking them to the Promised Land. No matter how sure a promise may be, when you choose to tow the line of carnal passion, God will have no choice but to change His mind.

It is very sad today that teenagers and young people see nothing wrong with sex before marriage. Reports have it that 43% of teenagers see nothing wrong with sex before marriage and about 36% are either living with a man/woman for sexual reasons or intend to do so before they marry.

This is contrary to the Word of God, But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul...: Prov. 6:32-33.When you allow anybody to defile you sexually, you are choosing destruction, wound, dishonour and lasting reproach. God frowns at sex outside marriage and will severely punish anyone who ventures into it, Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge: Heb. 13:4. So determine to remain pure for your (future) partner because apart from its grievous consequences, it is disobedience to God.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to help you keep your bed undefiled.
* Immorality is in different shades and forms, pray that non of it will have a hold on your destiny.
* Rebuke the spirit of immorality that is at work in this generation.
** Promise God to keep His temple (your body) holy.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Lord, today, I repent of all the sins and mistakes I have ever committed that have given the enemy an in-road into my life and destiny; forgive me, oh Lord!

Burn The Bridge II

Tuesday 14 April
READ: Heb. 11:16-26
MORE LESSONS: Rev. 21;1-27

Paul admonished the Galatians, For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor: Gal. 2:18. Today’s reading further gives us reasons why Moses, Joshua and Caleb were not mindful of Egypt where they came from. They had a desire for the better country, a desire that was ever on their minds. They looked for a city which had foundations whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10). They were concerned about the city that God Himself prepared for them: the streets of gold, the beautiful mansions, the crown of life, eternity with God, etc. No wonder they were committed and never contemplated going back to Egypt.

Unlike Moses, Joshua and Caleb, the love and crave for the material things of this world have taken over many people who, like the rich fool in Lk. 12:13-21, have no desire for a better country (heaven). Rather, they are busy laying up treasures on earth, drinking, eating and making merry. You can know whether a man has a desire for heaven or not by the way he invests his treasures, time and energy: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also: Matt. 6:21.

Heaven is a better country because believers will be in God’s presence and will not be limited by time and space. That is where Paul, Peter, David are now. Nothing in this world compares with it. The rich man in Lazarus’ story saw it from hell and greatly desired it for himself and his siblings but it was too late. Today is the time to decide for heaven by surrendering your life to Jesus in everything, living a holy life and burning everything that drags you back to Egypt, no matter how valuable and expensive they may be.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to restore your first love for Him and His work.
* Ask for more of God in everything.
* Pray for a life totally focused and committed to eternal values.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I plead the Blood of Jesus over this day and I refuse the enemy from having any memorial in it.