YOU ARE ALSO A LEADER OF GOD'S PEOPLE

Proclamation:

"Be strong and very courageous.  Be careful to obey all the law My servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:7-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words, which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, are thought to have been written by the Prophet Joshua himself.  Here Joshua conveys what The Lord God said to him.  After the death of Moses,  The Lord said to Joshua, "Moses my servant is dead.  Now then ... As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:1-5)  Joshua was to lead the people into the promise land.  These were the words of encouragement and the directions that The Lord spoke to him.  God chose Joshua to lead His people.

Application:

Pastors and preachers are not the only ones to lead God’s people.  If anyone follows you, listens to your advice, and if what you say or do influences their behavior, then you are also a leader.  If any of the people who follow you are believers then you are also a leader of God’s people.  As such you have the responsibility to say and do the right thing, so as not to lead them astray.  The best way to do that is to be sure that you follow The Word of God.  Read, study, meditate, think about, recite, talk about, and live God's Word, and you will be prosperous, successful, and a good leader of God’s people because God will be with you wherever you go.