“Not So Secret” Secrets to Success as a Servant of God

You have probably heard many sermons from Joshua 1. As I read and study the lives of leaders in the Bible, I often come back to the episode of the mantle of leading passing from Moses to Joshua. Joshua witnessed the mighty work of God in and through Moses first-hand as his assistant. 

Joshua, who earlier in his life demonstrated courageous faith (Numbers 13-14), is encouraged by the Lord to be strong and courageous. God tells Joshua to not be afraid or dismayed, to not be discouraged. Whatever sphere of leadership we find ourselves in can bring times of dread, dismay, and discouragement. 

Here are a handful of encouragements from Joshua 1 for the servant of God: 

1. Trust that God has a plan. 

Joshua 1:2, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.” 

God’s plan for the Israelites was still in place. Likewise, the purpose of the church remains. We are to go and make disciples of all nations. I find it interesting that God tells Joshua several times to be strong and courageous. You don't need courage if you don't have a mission! Be strong and courageous as you serve the Lord. 

2. Trust that God is with you. 

Joshua 1:5, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” 

Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  

Another way I would say this is, “Mindfully embrace the presence of God.” Tom Elliff said that he seeks to live each day with “the looming awareness of God’s presence.” As I think about the fact that God is with me, as I embrace God’s presence in my life, it impacts how I live and serve. 

3. Take time to focus on the Word of God. 

I know many of you are preachers and teachers of the Word. I love being able to preach and teach the Scriptures with others. However, I need to also take time to focus on the Word in my own life. The news no longer shows up to your house only in the form of a daily newspaper on the front porch. We now are inundated with moment-by-moment news, not to even mention social media.  

Joshua was likely inundated as a national leader and a military leader with ongoing intelligence briefings and the ongoing domestic issues of the Israelites he was leading. He needed to be in God’s Word and God’s Word needed to be in him.  

Joshua 1:7–8, “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” 

May we be strong and courageous in the Lord as we serve our great and gracious God. 

Your brother in Christ, 

BRIAN AUTRY

P.S. Dr. Chuck Lawless and I will be launching a Doctor of Ministry cohort on Christian leadership through Southeastern Seminary and the SBCV that will begin in October 2021 with an in-person seminar hosted at our SBC of Virginia office in the Richmond area. There will typically be an in-person seminar for a week in October and then one in the Spring during the course of the degree. If you have interest, please email our office at twalker@sbcv.org and we can share more details with you.