Pass On The Baton

Pass on the Baton (Joshua 24:14-28, 31) We are called to fear the Lord (Joshua 24:14, Deut. 10:12-13) yare' {yaw-ray'}Heb. = fear, stand in awe of, revere, honor and respect Fear of God is motivated by and awareness of His awesome power and of the fact that He is a God of true justice (Fortunately is a God of great mercy). To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who he is: holy, almighty, righteous, pure, allknowing, all-powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves by comparison as weak, sinful and in need of grace and mercy. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 25:12) How do we demonstrate “fear” of God? The author of Ecclesiastes tells us when concludes the book with “Fear God and keep His commandments.” We are called to worship Him whole-heartedly and faithfully (Joshua 24:14) tamiym {taw-meem'}Heb. = whole-heartedly, with integrity, completely without impairment or reservation (i.e. not double-minded) (1 Chron. 28:9) You may be able to fool people, but you can’t fool God. The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. (Prov. 10:9) The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. (Prov. 11:3)

balance,

God shall judge us according to our integrity (Ps. 7:8; Matt. 7:21-23). Do you dare to ask what Job asked, “Let me be weighed in an even that God may know mine integrity” (Job 31:6).

'emeth {eh'-meth}Heb. = faithfully, reliably, truthfully Remembering who God is and what He has done helps us to remain faithful

Strong & Wise Leaders Prepare others to lead Servant Leadership - Moral leaders benefit their organizations by empowering as opposed to controlling others. They do this by first recognizing, and then helping actuate, the latent potentialities of others. (see Matt. 20:25-27) The key concept behind servant leadership is the belief that true leadership emerges from those whose primary motivation is a deep desire to help Tim. 2:2)

others. (2

It is about promoting the spiritual growth & maturity of all members of the family/congregation. (Eph. 4:11-16), leaving no one out (2 Chron. 34:30) 10 Characteristics of a Servant Leader (from Spears, Reflections on Leadership) 1) Active Listener 2) Genuinely Empathetic 3) Healer 4) Persuader 5) Aware 6) Possessing/Demonstrating Foresight 7) Conceptualizer 8) Committed to the Growth of others 9) Good Steward 10)Community Builder Martin Luther King, Jr. said that everyone can become great because anyone can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know Plato and Aristotle. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. Speak plainly and forthrightly Choices Life is full of choices and choices have consequences But the most important decision we can make, the only one of real eternal significance, both ourselves and our families, is the choice of whom to worship (Joshua 24:15; 1 Kings 18:21)

We can choose to worship God (Joshua 24:15 & 24; Ruth 1:16; Gen. 18:19, John 6:68) and receive the His favor and the free gift of eternal salvation. But if we choose to abandon God, we, in essence sign our own death warrant (Joshua 24:20; Isa. 1:28; 65:12; Ezek.18:24; Heb. 10:26-27) God is patient, but he will not endure idolatry forever The pride of life (the pursuit of self glory and honor) = selfworship = idolatry (Dan. 4:30-33)

etc.)

Other possibilities (excessive pursuit of beauty, strength, knowledge, sensual pleasure, acquisition/ownership, (see Ecc. 1:17; 2:4-11; 5:10; Jer. 9:23-24) Both great & small are vulnerable to idolatry (Isa. 2:8-9) Anything which usurps the place of God in the human heart is idolatry. Anything that robs God of the worship and glory properly due Him his idolatry. Give God the glory due Him (1 Chron. 16:29; Ps. 29:2; Rom. 1:21-23) Worshipping idols causes us to forget God, and in doing so, ultimately to perish (Deut. 8:19; 30:17; 1 Kings 9:6-8; Eph. 5:5)

Set high/challenging expectations and good, clear examples (John 13:15) Setting low expectations is a sign of disregard and disrespect As for me and my house (family), we will worship the Lord (Joshua 24:15) Such leaders constantly purge their lives of that which interferes with their relationship with God (i.e. Sin) (2 Chron. 34:3; Joshua 7:11; Rom. 10:10; 1 John 1:8-10) and renew their commitment to God (2 Chron. 34:31), and encouraged others to do likewise (2 Chron. 34:32) They demonstrate faith in God (Judges 5) They teach others to observe the commandments of God and to demonstrate the love of Christ, by word and example. (Matt. 5:19; 1 Pe. 5:2-3) Love

They love, affirm, encourage and upbuild others. (Judges 4:6-9; Rom. 14:19; 1 Thes.5:11; Eph. 4:29-32; Phil. 2:1-2; Heb. 3:13) Pray (1 Chron. 16:11; Luke 21:36, 22:40; 1 Thes. 5:17; 1 Tim. 2:1 & 8; Mark 14:38; Eph. 6:18-19), seek God, on there own behalf, and on behalf of others (2 Chron. 34:3, 21) Lead Joshua never took a poll to see what might be the most politically expedient choice to make. Joshua sought to know the will of God, and He followed it.

their Ordination

Joshua led the people to make a covenant with God (Joshua 24:25). He created an outward sign of their inward commitment. Leading people to formalize commitment to God helps them clarify it and own it. (like in Baptism, or Marriage) A covenant is a solemn agreement and mutual obligation, contracted deliberately, with the intent to bring the parties into a special

relationship.

21; Ps. 28;

The tradition of covenant relationships introduced by our God can be found in both the “Old Testament” (e.g. Gen. 6:18; 9:9-17; 17:289:3-4; Jer. 31:31-34) and the “New Testament” (e.g. Matt. 26:26Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:20; Rom. 11:27; Heb. 7:22; 8:6-13)