Israel served (and worshipped) the LORD all the days of Joshua.” Joshua 24:31 (Emphasis mine)
Joshua was one of the greatest leaders in the history of the people of God! Whatever it was, as you can see from his epitaph, he had ‘it’! The people were successful in the things of the Lord under Joshua’s leadership. Just like him, whether we realize it or not, we’re all leaders in one way or another, and we can have ‘it’ too.
I’m a leader—a pastor of a church family. It is who I am, what I am called to do. According to Ephesians chapter 4, as a Christian, even if you are not a pastor of a church, you are still in the ministry. You don’t have to oversee a church to be a leader in the Kingdom. The concept of leadership is simply that of influence, and there are many areas in life to put it to use!
All of us have influence on others at some level. Think about a parent raising their children, a manager motivating their team, a teacher in a classroom, a friend coaching someone through a circumstance, or a neighbor who loves others and does everything with excellence. These are all examples of leadership in action, demonstrating that our influence extends into every aspect of our lives. As the ambassadors of Christ on the planet, we are called to influence others not necessarily by preaching but through presence. The question that I am posing today is, What are we doing with our influence, and how can we make it better?
The Joshua Principle reveals God’s perfect plan for Heaven’s transformational influence—The Kingdom Factor. If leadership is influence, and it is, it’s how we are to change the world around us. In this article, I want to explore what made Joshua an example of the Kingdom at work—how one man successfully led an entire nation into devoted worship and service of the Father, winning every battle and possessing what God put before them—a task Moses failed at. However, following Joshua’s death, the people became lost and troubled. In Joshua, an obedient people conquered the land, trusting in God’s power. In Judges, they became disobedient and idolatrous, defeated repeatedly because of their rebellion. Similar to their former position under Moses’ leadership. Joshua had something that changed the dynamic of others! What was it, and how do we get it?
What Joshua had was an abiding relationship with the Father: presence. As Moses’s attendant and protege, Joshua learned to seek the Lord and to lead the people. But I believe Joshua had something Moses missed: abiding. While Moses was a powerhouse leader, he ultimately failed in his call to lead the people into the promised land. He struck the rock in anger and frustration while dealing with the people, after God told him to speak to it. Because of this disobedience, Joshua would fulfill the mission God had entrusted to Moses—a type and shadow of Jesus, the One who would lead the people into the Kingdom.
I believe the difference between Moses and Joshua was abiding. While Moses was a great leader who spent time in God’s presence—where God spoke to him as a friend—he sometimes became so busy with ministry and the things of God that he missed out on God Himself. Joshua would accompany Moses into the tent of meeting, and when Moses would return to the people with what he had received, Joshua would stay and linger in the presence of the Lord (Ex 33:11). Joshua had no agenda; he was just there. He abided.
There is nothing wrong with seeking the Lord for the things of the Lord; as a matter of fact, we should do that! But something powerful happens when we seek Him with no agenda. When we come into His presence, just for His presence alone. We come open, vulnerable, and void of preconceived ideas. This is where His influence transforms and shapes us like nothing else can—it is the true reality of worship in spirit and truth. And from this life of abiding, lingering in His presence, comes our most powerful influence to the world around us. When we spend time in His presence, we are filled with the same thing Joshua had: The Father! His influence becomes our influence on those around us.
Presence was the secret of Joshua’s outstanding and successful leadership! There was a transfer of the presence and goodness of God through him to others. Just like Jesus, he couldn’t help it; he was saturated with it!
So how do we cultivate this kind of abiding presence in our own lives?
1. Take time to linger. Like Joshua staying in the tent of meeting after Moses left, set aside time where you’re not rushing to the next thing. This isn’t about lengthy prayer lists or bible study—it’s about simply being with the Father. Start with 10-15 minutes where you sit quietly in His presence with no agenda and no requests.
2. Shift your focus from transaction to relationship. Notice when your prayer time becomes a to-do list of requests or concerns. While petition and intercession are vital, add a new time of regularly coming to God seeking nothing but Him as well. Ask yourself: Am I coming to God for what He can do, or for who He is?
3. Practice His presence throughout your day. Abiding isn’t limited to a quiet time—it’s a lifestyle. Invite God into everyday moments: your drive, your conversations, your lunch break, your Walmart trip! Develop an ongoing fellowship with Him that doesn’t stop when you leave your prayer closet.
4. Prioritize presence over productivity. In our ministry and leadership of influence, it’s easy to get caught up in doing things for God while missing time with God Himself. Like Moses, we can become so busy with the work that we miss the intimacy with God that produces the power of ‘it.’ Regularly evaluate: Is what I’m doing flowing from intimacy, or am I substituting busyness for His presence?
5. Expect transformation, not just information. When we abide in His presence, we’re changed from the inside out. This isn’t about trying harder to be a better Christian, parent, friend, co-worker, leader, or whatever influence—it’s about being saturated in Him until His nature seamlessly overflows into every relationship and situation.
The Joshua Principle is simple yet profound: spend time in His presence, and His influence becomes your influence. When you’re saturated in God’s presence like Joshua and Jesus were, you won’t be able to help but transfer that powerful presence of influence to everyone around you. And that’s when the world around you begins to change. Abide!
Kingdom living doesn’t happen by accident.
#hardchargingkingdomseekers
In the passionate pursuit of His Kingdom,
Pastor Jason
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Let’s build Kingdom Community!
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