0950, Leadership

Episode Title: Leadership—Joshua’s Recipe for Good SuccessEpisode SummaryW. D. Frazee studies leadership through the life of Joshua, showing that every person has influence and that true Christian leadership begins by seeking God’s direction, meditating in His Word day and night, and obeying His instructions exactly.Show Notes / Description“Now, if I should ask this evening how many of you folks are leaders, not all your hands would go up, but you all are, whether you know it or not.”With that opening reminder, Pastor W. D. Frazee begins this 1980 study on Christian leadership. Leadership is not limited to generals, governors, presidents, or public officials. Every person has influence with somebody: parents with children, teachers with students, older students with younger students, and every believer with those around them.The central biblical example is Joshua. As Joshua led ancient Israel into the earthly Canaan, so Christ will lead the remnant church into the heavenly Canaan. Frazee traces Joshua’s preparation for leadership—from waiting forty days as Moses’ attendant near Sinai, to leading Israel against Amalek while Moses’ hands were lifted in prayer, to finally receiving God’s charge after Moses’ death.The sermon develops several practical lessons:God appoints leadership — Moses did not campaign for a successor. He prayed, and God appointed Joshua, a man in whom was the Spirit.Leaders are trained through service and waiting — Joshua learned both action and patience: he fought Amalek, but he also waited quietly for Moses near Sinai.Success comes from doing what God says — the lesson impressed on Joshua was that success is not self-made strategy but obedience to divine instruction.The Word is the leader’s chart and compass — Joshua was commanded to meditate in the book of the law day and night, that he might observe to do all that was written therein.Christian leadership is not self-sufficiency — the true leader is the “humble wrestler” who dares not make a move without first seeking counsel from God.Jericho reveals God’s method — the point was not that cities are conquered by marching around them, but that problems are solved by finding God’s instruction and carrying it out exactly.Inspired instruction must be studied for every field of work — Frazee applies Joshua 1:8 to physicians, nurses, parents, teachers, colporteurs, Sabbath School workers, and every branch of Christian service.Leadership includes helping others solve problems — the closing practical assignment is to find someone with a problem and help solve it through prayer and the study of God’s Word.Key Scriptures2 Timothy 1:6Numbers 27:15–21Isaiah 65:24Joshua 1:1–8Hebrews 11:30Numbers 12:6–8Key ThemesEvery person as a leader through influenceJoshua as a type of ChristGod’s appointment of leadersPreparation for leadership through service, waiting, and obediencePrevailing prayer and the battle with AmalekMeditating in God’s law day and nightGood success through obedience to the WordChristian leadership versus worldly ambitionThe humble leader who seeks counsel from GodJericho and the lesson of exact obedienceInspired instruction as chart and compassHelping others solve problems through prayer and ScriptureHealth, sleep, and disciplined study habitsCompanion ReferencesEllen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1890).Ellen G. White, “The Worker with God,” Review and Herald, July 4, 1893.Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 7 (Silver Spring, MD: Ellen G. White Estate, 1990), 224.Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 8 (Silver Spring, MD: Ellen G. White Estate, 1990), 330–31.Ellen G. White, Letter 85, 1888.Memorable Line“Christian leadership is in getting our orders from Christ, carrying them out the very best we can in our own lives, and involving other people with us, getting them to see the joy of following God’s beautiful way.”AboutTo My Dear Friends brings the timeless messages of Pastor W. D. Frazee to a new generation of listeners. Visit WDFsermons.org for the full sermon library.