The Courage to Follow

0:00 This morning as I was praying, I was thinking how much work it takes to clear my mind of everything and truly stare at His throne and from the core of my being to thank Him for the cross. you know sometimes we're in church and we'll sing these phrases and we'll say these things on a daily basis but it's it's our lips we know it we're just kind of saying it with our lips but to truly feel like my soul is in the presence of the throne of god and i am directly staring at him and with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, literally going, thank you for the cross. That's a lot of work.

1:04 because we have so many things going on in our minds, and we're just used to jumping, jumping, jumping, so to do anything with all of my heart and to feel it. See, it's so easy to say, hey, Elias, good to see you. But do I mean that? I mean, a little bit. I mean, that's good to see you. But I'm not at the moment thinking, like connecting with another human being and going, like right now I am. And I'm thinking, no, it's seriously good to see you. I'm seriously thankful for you. that takes effort to really mean what we say because we don't want to be like the Pharisees where the Bible says they honored God with their lips but their hearts were far from him like God hates that that's hypocrisy we say things we don't really mean that's why the Bible says that great command when Jesus says what's the they're asking Jesus what's the greatest command he goes love the Lord your God with all of your heart all of your soul all of your mind all of your strength so I'm praying that we are people who when we're alone with him we can just truly okay God I want to give all of my heart right now, all of my mind, all of my strength, like everything, to stare at the throne and to think somehow that there's, here's Jesus on his throne and he's holy, like so far beyond us. And yet he's the lamb who was slain. Like somehow both of those thoughts are going on in heaven and we're joining all of heaven. Now you're, now you're really realizing I'm just a small piece joining this chorus in heaven,

3:12 a chorus of people on the earth who've been living for thousands of years, and we're all saying the same thing. Jesus, you're so worthy. Take whatever is left of this little life and use it. Use it for your glory. to truly say that and mean that with your soul. When's the last time you were able to do that? seriously think of the last time you were a hundred percent engaged with Jesus all of your heart soul mind and strength because some of you if you grew up in church you know all the churchy phrases and they just kind of flow out of your mouth but is it flowing out of your soul the inner man the inner person That has nothing to do with what I'm talking about today, but I just, I just, I don't know.

4:32 I just felt like I had some moments with the Lord this morning. And it's when you have those moments, you realize, wow, it's been a long time since I've had a moment like this. You ever have that experience where when you have that moment, you go, oh, shoot, it's been a long time. Yeah, I have a dear friend, godly, godly man, great, great pastor. And just got a text from the other day because his son just graduated high school. And for graduation, he took him to Iceland to hike with his son. But he was talking about beyond that, he was just experiencing the love of God. And again, one of the godliest men I know. And he just confessed. He goes, wow, this is so good.

5:27 He goes, it feels like I was blind and now I see. Like it's that much of a revelation to me, the love of Christ again. He goes, that word beloved is just so real to me again. I just got an email from one of our missionaries in the Philippines and same thing. He goes, I was getting so dry. And you have no idea what God's done in my life these last couple weeks. And I just, I know his love. I'm feeling his love. And so that's why I pray for you. Just because you're here, you're faithful, you're in a house church.

6:12 We can hide in a big church, little church, anywhere. Just get real with him. Just confess if you've just been distracted and just, it's not that purity and that, ah, wholeheartedness, I think is the word. It's coming to mind. We want to be those types of people, just focused. So even when I talk to you, I don't want to just preach and go through notes. I want to feel every word as I read the word of God. I just got back from LA where I'm speaking to thousands of young people and they asked me to speak about courage just fearlessness because we're encouraging these young people to do whatever with your life go to the ends of the earth give it up don't count your life as dear to you and even as I'm studying the passage because I preached out of Joshua because that's what we were reading.

7:20 And, you know, whenever you think courage, one of the first verses that probably comes to mind is what God said to Joshua in Joshua 1.9. But as I'm thinking about courage, I'm looking at my own life because I'm going, God, am I as courageous as I've ever been or have I slipped some? and I realized I had lost some of the courage that I once had, and I was like, no, God, that can't happen. I'm not going down this way. I'm not ending my life this way on a downer, a downslope of courage. I'm like, God, I'll go wherever right now. You want to say something to me? You want to send me somewhere and even tell me ahead of time that I'm going to be tortured for what I teach?

8:18 and I'll die and not see my family on this earth again. Say it, Lord. I'm ready. I'm just ready. I want it. I had to come before God and go, God, restore this courage. It's there. God, take me. I mean it. Like, you're worthy. I'm not just singing these songs this morning. No, worthy is your name. Worthy for everything. This is not about my life. This is about the advancement of your kingdom. In Joshua 1 verse 9, God says, 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.

9:19 This was his command. This is God speaking directly to Joshua. Haven't I commanded you? Because God says this several times to him. It's a command. It's not optional. We have to be strong and courageous. don't be frightened commanded him don't be afraid same thing Paul says in Philippians 1.27 don't be afraid of anything anything in your opponents this is true of you be strong, courageous don't be frightened the Lord your God is with you wherever you go just like he says in the New Testament, right? In the Great Commission, I'll be with you.

10:15 It's the same God. He never changes. He says, I want you to be courageous people. but I'm actually not talking about courage this morning either. I noticed something while I was studying this passage, okay? And I'd seen it before, but I guess I renoticed it and had some new revelation about it.

10:42 It's so important, you know, how we're reading through the book of Joshua right now, that you read things in context. And earlier, Moses in Deuteronomy 31, look at what he says. Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give to them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. So Moses already said this to him. this is the older man who is about to die. He goes, look, I did my thing. And God was with me.

11:37 And what I'm telling you is he will be with you. But you've got to be strong and courageous. So then after that, that's when we have God in Joshua 1, verses 5 through 9.

12:55 Okay? So Moses was very clear to Joshua. God was very clear in his words to Joshua. But here's what I really want you to notice this morning. the people then speak to Joshua in the next passage in Joshua 1 verse 16 this is uh the tribes of Gad, Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh this group of people say to him they answered Joshua and said all that you have commanded us we will do and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.

14:01 This is what jumped out at me. was the people. And I think why it jumped out to me is we don't see this in our day and age. We don't see a group of people who courageously follow a leader.

14:24 Oh, you guys all go online and post your thoughts, your opinions courageously. That's what we do. We think it's courage. I'm going to speak my mind. So you don't have anyone saying to someone else, you be strong and courageous.

14:45 One of my concerns about this generation that we live in is that we may not know the difference between courageous and rebellious. See, there's a difference, big difference between the book of Joshua, which we're reading, and the book of Judges, which we will read. It's night and day. Joshua is when the people go together and take the land.

15:19 Judges is when everything falls apart. Joshua is when all the people say to the leader, be strong, courageous, we'll do whatever you tell us to do. Judges is the time when it says everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

15:42 See the difference? Judges 21 verse 25 In those days there was no king in Israel Everyone did what was right In his own eyes So I feel like this is a very important message for us, especially as we are church. And here's why I say this specifically to us. Our heart in We Are Church was that every one of you has a unique gift for the body. And so we gather in smaller gatherings so that you can use your gift for the common good. Remember the illustration with the liver, like you're a part of the body, a vital part of the body. But not everyone's the mouth.

16:38 Not everyone's the brain. You're this part, and we want you to use your gift, the Bible says, for the common good. So somehow, through the Holy Spirit, you may receive a gift where you have the ability to heal. like God would heal someone through you. Or you may suddenly have a word that comes from the Lord. It's like, whoa. You may be able to just know what's going on in someone else's life and you're able to prophesy over them. It's like, whoa, there's some crazy gifts when you read the scriptures. Others may have this gift of encouragement. I mean, you'd see in the Old Testament, suddenly God would fill these workers with skills of workmanship through the Spirit. In fact, that's the first time we see the Spirit filling people were craftsmen.

17:36 Like, there's something supernatural, whether it's evangelism, whatever it is, God gave you that. And so we want to create room for you to use your gifting and to show you, man, you are valuable. There's something about you that we need. We need something in you. Now, the dangerous part of this is once you start exercising your gift you just start feeling like, oh yeah, I am the gift to the church and I will share my opinion and that loss of submission I want to be careful how I say this. Okay, I'm not Catholic.

18:44 I'm not Eastern Orthodox. but if you go into a Catholic gathering or an Orthodox gathering, you know who's in charge. You know who the leader is, and you're not thinking, I'm going to challenge that because you really don't have room for that. in our gatherings we have lay leaders some of our pastors have not been to seminary but they were appointed by our elders to be those leaders and so it can be very easy to go okay I shared something I think what I shared was more significant than him and then suddenly there's just this breakdown down in leadership. And suddenly it doesn't look like the book of Joshua. It looks like the book of Judges, where everyone is just sharing what's in their own heart and saying, no, God told me that. I don't come under anyone. I just listen to God.

20:05 Guys, have you ever worked for a company where that worked? You ever try to lead anything, start a business where everyone has equal say and everyone's opinion matters equally? Guy says there's never been a movement without courageous submission. see in our generation we just encourage means i'm just gonna say what no courage is what those people did in the book of joshua they go here's a man of god and they beg him to be strong and courageous and they said and we'll follow you in fact if anyone doesn't follow you we'll kill him like oh that'd be nice you know it's just one of those things where i'm going, gosh, that would be great as a leader.

21:03 Then my whole job then is just to hear from God rather than fighting all the people. See, that's what Moses went through, right? That's why they all died in the desert. We read the book of Numbers. That's rebellion. And you can do it, but God says, yeah, but I'll kill you.

21:24 He said, well, that's Old Testament. And what about Ananias and Sapphira? It's the little white lie to the leadership. And they go, wow, you just lied to the Holy Spirit. You just exaggerated to us. That God's plan has always been leadership. He's always used human leaders. And that's a book of Judges where you realize, wow, what a mess. There was no leadership. There was no king. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. You guys know I used to lead a big church in Southern California. I mean, it was a house church, but then we just let it grow like crazy. And, but, I will say, I really believe it was a movement of God.

22:25 The church was thriving. Thousands of people were coming. Why did that happen? Why do you think God caused that to thrive? And I'm not saying numbers is everything or whatever else, but it just was a very, it was a thriving church. but I want to share, I just want to share what I believe. You know what a big reason, a big reason why that church was thriving, and I'd see some of my friends, and they were just struggling in ministry, struggling in life. What distinguished me from some of the other leaders was my wife. to have a wife that believed I was supposed to lead her.

23:33 and supported me in that and said, I'll follow you heart and soul. I'm with you. You think you should start a church? We never talked about this before, but if you think that's what God wants, do it. You know what that did to me?

23:55 I go, whoa, you believe in my leadership? You really believe God sent me to lead? Thank you. and then there was a group of people who loved me and prayed for me and actually wanted me to lead them. and so then my job was like I just got wow god that's a big stewardship my wife is you know at the time Lisa was offered like a recording contract which was her dream to be this you know Christian rapper uh no like a singer you know and I thought whoa that's crazy and she goes I don't I don't even want to do that I just want to support you that that puts a lot of weight on you like are you sure no i want you to do this this is your dream no my dream is to come under your leadership oh my gosh are you kidding me and to have people twice my age wanting to follow me it was just oh man that's a way i had to come before god god you you better help me And that there's my focus rather than trying to beg people to follow.

25:22 When you have people who love you and pray for you and support you, that's when things happen. Remember, there was only one Joshua! and millions of people maybe not millions I forget the exact number it's up there I should have studied that but at least hundreds of thousands they're just going to be strong and courageous now look I understand there is some toxic like abusive leaders out there I am not And that's horrible. That's a horrible thing. People that use their position of power to take advantage of other people and abuse other people. and they will be judged for that.

26:21 They will stand before God on that. I will be judged for the way I've led all of these years, and I've made many mistakes. So I understand that. But now I'm in a new season where... I've prayed for Peter and for Rob here in EPA and go, you're the leaders now. And now I'm one of the people that say, you guys better be strong and courageous. I'll follow you. I'll come under your leadership.

27:03 Just be strong, be courageous. Don't just do what everyone's telling you to do. Hear from the Lord. be united and push us forward. And I'm with you. I'll come under you. And I stand before God on that now. Just as my wife looks at scripture and says, hey, I see that my husband is supposed to lead me. And so I'm going to follow you. And I say the same to you guys. You're the elders. I'm not an elder anymore.

27:37 Now, do I say that? because they're more intelligent than I am? Come on. Please. It's nothing to do with that. But look at Joshua. If Joshua tried to do a plan today, hey, we're going to march around this city that wants to kill us. Let's just march around it seven times. What would go on in your mind today? you would just think that is the stupidest plan that is never going to work and you guys would get online get on instagram okay join me if you want to just go three times around great and everyone will give their opinion on how we're actually going to win this battle because that's not the way things work when has that ever worked? These things are written for a reason. The reason why God shows what happens when leaders are evil, like in the book of Kings, it's to show leaders, look, this is where you're going to take the people. And the reason why the book of Numbers of individuals who want to rebel and what happens to them, why is that written? So we recognize, Why does he show us Joshua and Judges?

29:19 So that we have a pattern. That's why Jesus tells his disciples, look, whatever you bind on earth, I'll bind it in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth, I'll loose in heaven. Look, heaven is with you. Be strong and courageous. I'll be with you. Let me just, just because even before we get into the church, it starts in the home. this is a very unpopular topic for today. Everything I'm talking about right now is so unpopular, but I don't really care. And hopefully you're grateful for a preacher who doesn't really care, but he cares very much that he's going to stand before God and that I keep every word and I preach every word.

30:22 2 Timothy 4 says the time is going to come when people won't put up with sound doctrine. They won't put up with this book. But they'll want something in their hearts and their itching ears will find teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. You can find a teacher to tell you anything. You can find a quote-unquote Christian book to tell you anything.

30:46 But I think ultimately if the Spirit is in you, you know what this book says. Ephesians 5, verses 22-25, Wives, submit to your own husband as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives. as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.

31:28 I have a command from God. I will be judged by how I lead my wife, how I love my wife. I'm supposed to love her and sacrifice for her like Christ loved and sacrificed the church. And again, understand, I am not saying that women, if you have an abusive husband, that that's okay. and I don't want to say anything make too general a statement because every situation is so unique and particular I'm not excusing that at all and I am not saying that we ever come under someone's authority if they are ever telling us something that is contrary to the word of God but I am saying that we will stand before God on how we submit to authority.

32:31 And that's the reality. And just because there's an increase in abuse, it doesn't neglect the fact that the Word of God says what the Word of God says. Ephesians 6. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, This is the first commandment with a promise that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This is commanded. In fact, the Bible says if you want to be an elder, people should look at the way you manage your household and whether or not your children are obedient children.

33:29 I take that very seriously. I go, if I can't lead my kids, why would I be a pastor? Why would I try to lead the church of God? It shows your ability to be a leader, to exercise authority in a loving way where you're not beating your kids up, but you're actually encouraging them and raising them in the ways of the Lord. But it does tell children they are to obey their parents, period. And let me just say right now, for those of you with children, those of you who will have children, those of you with little babies, whatever, you are not doing your children any favors by being passive and weak. it can feel like, oh, but they like it more, and they rebel less when I give them what they want.

34:29 That's brilliant. You guys, this is so prevalent, this gentle parenting. You know, there's like ads out like, oh, I'm looking for a nanny, but the nanny has to believe what we believe, which is you don't say no to the kids. It's like, wow, I'd love to nanny those kids You guys, the Bible is so clear Authority is a good thing You're not helping your children by being weak It doesn't matter if everyone else is doing it You have to look at the scriptures Here's what the scriptures say Proverbs 13, 24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

35:23 It's a word of God. It's not, you know, 21st century thinking. It's just Bible. whoever spares the rod hates his son but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him discipline's a good thing now some know my story my dad was abusive on that side but I can honestly go gosh I'm just glad there was authority in the home even then and it was wrong. It was sinful the way he abused me.

36:06 I didn't stand there as I was tied to a tree getting beaten and go, oh, this is the Lord's will. It was bad. But I don't have the right to flip the other direction and swing the pendulum to where now kids, anything you want. Because I look at scripture and go, no, I ought to discipline them and the ways of God. Proverbs 22 verse 15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child But the rod of discipline drives it far from him It's just explaining kids are not naturally wise. they're naturally foolish. We were all born idiots, okay? And we just go after what we want to go after.

37:01 And those of us who had good parents stopped us from those things and said, no, that's foolish. And you're not going to do that again. And here's your punishment for doing what you did because I don't want you to do it again. Because folly is in you as a child and it is my job as a parent to discipline that out of you. So when you turn 18 and I release you to the world, you're a man or woman of God. You know what's right. It doesn't mean you'll follow it, but I will have shown you. Deuteronomy 21

38:09 Elias, he will not obey our voice, he is a glutton and a drunkard, then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear and fear. when's the last time you heard that passage preached okay and I'm not saying that's what we do today okay take this in context I'm just showing you God is serious about rebellion and that was the Old Testament for his reasons that's the law and it says the rest of Israel will see it and fear I'm guessing it only happened like once. these things were supposed to show us the example of Ananias and Sapphira was supposed to show us that there's always been authority and it's not a bad thing and it's a good thing to actually it's actually somewhat relaxing to be in submission Wenn ihr hoped decrease Denicio They asked me to preach this week.

39:46 I preach. Last time, they're like, no, you're not preaching. Will's better. So they had Will preach. I get it. I just follow them. And I don't question. It's like, whatever, whoever you want to teach. If you want me to teach, I'll teach. If you don't want me to teach, I won't teach. What do you want me to do? I'll do it. It's like, oh, that's nice. I don't have to think. I just have to pray for them and encourage them. keep leading me keep directing me you know i was wanting to speak at this thing you know or not even want to i was like i just threw it at some of our global elders like oh hey i was asked to speak at this thing but it's up to you you just tell me should i speak at this or not just come under leadership okay now it's up to you you're going to stand before god for how you lead and i'm going to stand before god at how i follow that's always been the pattern Hebrews 13, 17 I'm almost done Obey your leaders and submit to them For they are keeping watch over your souls As those who will have to give an account Let them do this with joy and not with groaning For that would be of no advantage to you Again Obey your leaders and submit to them I'm trying my best to do that, to joyfully just go, man, I believe God sent you guys.

41:17 He's going to lead through you guys. And again, do I think they're better leaders? You know, they're more gifted at leading than I am? Heck no. But again, the anointing and the authority of God is on them. So if they say march around the block seven times, I'd do it.

41:45 I would do it because why? I fear God. This isn't about intelligence or ability. It's about God placing certain people in leadership. Here's the last thing I'll say Nope, second to last Okay, the Bible says Seek first the kingdom of God, right? And his righteousness And all these things shall be added unto you So we seek the kingdom first Listen to this, get this I care about the kingdom advancing like that's what I want I want there to be an army of people just worshiping the name of Yeshua you know ready for his return that's that's that's my heart desire is I want it here I want it overseas I want it everywhere like God I just want this army ready for your return like that's what I'm seeking is the kingdom advancing so in order to do that I've got to let go of my own individualism, my own opinions, what I think is right, because kingdom advancement doesn't happen when everyone does what's right in his own eyes, when everyone believes their opinion is so brilliant. I know I've been a part of enough sports teams where you have all the players come to the coach arguing for, you know, who should get playing time or this or that and rebelling against, I've seen it doesn't work. Companies where everyone gets around and gossips and this is this, it doesn't work. Everything falls apart. It's leaders. I've been enough that if I want this kingdom to advance, I just go, God, who do you have in charge? And I'll come under them. I'll follow them because I want this thing to happen. Your kingdom, not my kingdom,

43:57 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. And the last thing I want to say, and maybe the most important, Jesus Christ. in the Garden of Gethsemane.

44:20 Jesus, who did not consider, the creator of this world, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but he emptied himself and took the form of a man, a servant, and subjected himself to death. Death on a cross. Like his example. And what did he say in that Garden of Gethsemane as he just shared that last communion? And now he's going? The first communion. And now he's about to go on the cross and he's sweating drops of blood because what before him is going to be so intense. And he says, my soul is grieved to the point of death.

45:14 I'm sweating blood. So, Father, is there any other way? Please take this cup from me. I think of that, I go, gosh, what father?

45:35 Like if mercy looked at me, is there any other way? I'll be, I'll find a way. but for God to look at his son and go, this is the way.

45:57 And Jesus says, well, not my will. Yours be done. This is our example. There's always leadership. There's always submission. wiedersehen and while we're on earth, leaders will never be perfect. I will fail you. I have failed many people. I have made bad choices.

46:28 I have sinned. but God called me to lead. And so I've done it to the best of my ability and with a wonderful wife and wonderful kids who have all come under my authority. and great leaders who have come under my authority.

46:53 We saw the advancement of the kingdom. and so now I'm saying, okay, Rob, Pete, God's called you guys to lead and be strong and courageous, and I'm going to follow you guys, and I'm scared to do anything else. And now we come to the table, which is the ultimate picture of submission.