Where Do I Find Help This Coming Year? – A Look At Teamwork

 

INTRO: Two weeks ago I talked about friendship and how it can help our lives. I spent time looking at Moses and how the Lord had friendships al through his life to help him along the way. Last week I looked at Daniel. Daniel could be listed as having several godly traits. Of all his traits I spent time on his faithfulness. Today, I want to look at teamwork and Joshua. Joshua was the Children of Israel’s leader after they lost a great leader named Moses. He was a great military leader, but he was also a team player. Contrary to what many may think, leaders have to be team players. Joshua figured this out and became a great leader, even in the shadow of one called Moses.

 

Teamwork is enhanced by team workers

 

Team workers make up a team

 

Numbers 13:1-16 KJV 1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
3And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
4And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
5Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.
6Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
7Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.
8Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.
9Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.
10Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.
11Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.
12Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
13Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.
14Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.
15Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
16These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

 

Oshea – God Saves or Help

Jehoshua – Jehovah Saves or Jehovah is Salvation or God Helps

 

Joshua (along with Caleb – Num. 14:6) was positive in the face of adversity

Joshua was willing to take on the needed responsibility – Num 13:16

Joshua was true to the task at hand

 

Even though Joshua is seen as the leader, teamwork was the need

 

Teamwork protects

Teamwork enhances strengths

Teamwork reduces weaknesses

Teamwork encourages others

Teamwork brings life instead of lethargy

Teamwork’s results and victories are more satisfying than individual gains

Teamwork often starts due to hardships and need

 

Israel had just undergone great hardships under slavery

Joshua was born a slave

Joshua had endured hardships personally

Moses needed team players

 

Joshua’s role as a leader started with his role as a team player

 

Exodus 17:9-14 KJV 9And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
10So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. 

 

It wasn’t just Moses

It wasn’t just Joshua

It wasn’t just soldiers

It wasn’t just the enemy

It was the team

 

Joshua learned how to be a team player by being a servant

 

Seen as Moses’ servant

 

Exodus 24:13 KJV And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

Exodus 33:11 KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

 

Hebrew Word is Meshereth – one who serves

 

I want you to understand…

We serve the One True God - together

We serve for His glory and His cause

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua learned to support the Lord not the man

 

Numbers 11:28-29 KJV 28And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
29And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

 

When we do good it is His work

When we do His work it is good

When we all do the Lord’s work as a team it is very good

 

Joshua learned to be God’s man and it showed

 

Around 85 years old when Moses died

 

Deuteronomy 34:9 KJV And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses. 

 

 

Led Israel after Moses – De. 34:9

Full of spirit of wisdom – De. 34:9

Heeded the insight of Moses – De. 34:9

Divided the land without dividing the nation - Num. 34:17

Set up the tabernacle

Set up cities of refuge

Set up the Levitical order and service

Close relationship with the Lord – Joshua 1:1-2

 

Joshua 1:1-2 KJV 1Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
2Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 

 

Joshua led his people into the promised land

 

The key here is that…

Joshua led Israel as a team

 

Joshua 24:1 KJV And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. 

 

By example

With love

With truth

 

Joshua 24:14-15 KJV 14Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

 

One good thing to notice is…

His team led Israel after he died

 

Joshua 24:29-31 KJV 29And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
30And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.
31And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.

 

We cannot live forever

We can serve together

We can leave an inheritance

We can make a difference - together

 

Where Do I need help this year?

Friendship

Faithfulness

And Teamwork

 

Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 011809am