Thoughts From The Road

Ignite40 #itsallaboutjesus

Leading up to Christmas we ran an initiative called IgniteAdvent. It was simple, each day we posted a film where someone shared a passage from the bible and then their thoughts. It was a great success.

So we have decided to do the same again for lent (Feb 22nd - April 5th). This time as well as some of the guests we choose, we are also asking young people to send their films in as well. We are working with UCB Media on this and they have come up with a great incentive. The film that gets the most likes on youtube will get an iPad 3! They are not even out yet but as soon as they are the winner will have one shipped to them. How cool is that?

Below is a film that shares a bit more about it. Please let your world know as we want more people to access the bible and learn about Jesus #itsallaboutjesus

 

The Cardiff City Temple & Ignite Trip to India

Last year I was part of a team that went to India. Here is a film that Nigel has made for the City Temple website. 

 

 

Superhero - Battle for your Soul Tour

This a great one day evangelistic campaign that is travelling throughout the UK, Europe and the USA in 2012. Book it now!

 

Lessons from the Life of Joshua - Part 3 - Stepping Up

On my infrequent trips to the gym I often start my session on a running machine. I start slowly in order to warm-up, orientate myself and prepare for the workout I have prepared. Eventually having gone from a fast-walk/jog I will be encouraged to "step up". That is, to increase my pace. In this way I will cover more ground, burn off more calories, raise my heart rate and theoretically cover more ground.

 In previous articles you will have read that Joshua was already a leader. Yes he was a servant, a spy, a mentoree but he was called also recognised amongst his people as a leader. However, at this point in his life he was going to another level! All that he had experienced prior to this point was God's apprenticeship to be the leader He wanted Joshua to be.

Timing is key

The book of Joshua begins with the phrase  "After the death of Moses..." God brings His purposes to pass in His own timing. As frustrating as this for us, it is a pattern that is evidenced repeatedly in the Bible. There is a period of 120 years between God telling Noah to build the ark and the rains starting. David received the annointing to be King twice (1:Sam 16/2:Sam 12:1)but did not assume the position until much later (2:Sam 5). Simeon could only die when he had met the Messiah (Luke 2:25).

All had purpose and authority before this but there came a Kairos moment when everything changed and they increased significantly in effectiveness, influence and authority. For Joshua it was the death of Moses.

Different Tasks Need Different Leaders

Throughout history great leaders have been appointed for the right job at the right time. Few would argue that Winston Churchill was the right leader to take Britain throught World War 2. However as soon as the war was over he was replaced by the first labour majority government led by Clement Attlee. People could not unite behind Churchill as a peace time leader. Corrie Ten Boom spent 50 years as a watchmaker before hiding jews in her house away from the Nazis. Moses had been the man to lead the people out of Eygpt. Indeed he was the obvious leader for them in the desert but because he had shown a lack of faith in God, he was told he would not take them into the promise land (Numbers 20:). Indeed when Moses pleaded with God it was at this point that he was instructed to annoint Joshua as the inheritor of the land (Deut 3: 21-29). 

Joshua had known for many years what his spiritual inheritence would be but unlike the prodigal son he was prepared to wait for the Father's timing.

God Confirms His call

The second part of the first sentence is also interesting in that it says "..the Lord said to Joshua.." Prior to this the Lord has spoken through Moses often in the tent of meeting with Joshua outside. Now as the mantle is passed, God speaks directly to him. When God tells him that  "Moses my servant is dead" (v2).  He is not only speaking the obvious, He is also commissioning Joshua for the task of next level leadership.

A number of years ago I was discussing with Nigel James the increased opportunities he was getting to travel in the USA with Third Day and his call to church leadership. I knew I had to seek God on how this would effect me. There was a question as to whether Ignite would continue. Although we had duality of leadership Nigel had been preeminent in defining the spiritual direction of the ministry and very much its public face. It became clear that God still had a role for Ignite and that I was to lead for the next season. This meant that my role would fundamentally change and that much of the work and preperation that I had been undertaking behind the scenes would now be used and come to the fore. So as Nigel's role changed with a clear direction from God, a good understanding of change management & a change of focus on some of the gifts God had given me, the transition was relatively smooth.

Back to Joshua, even in his commissioning there was a requirement to wait for the Lords' timing.  God told him to get ready, (V2) that the crossing over was soon not then. Indeed as we will see in later articles, the waiting and preparation were key to the success that they saw.

To be continued.....

 

Lessons From the Life of Joshua - Part 2 - Growing in Faith

In the previous post we read how Joshua was both a leader and a servant (read it  here).  

For the next set of principles I want to look at the one of the very famous passages featuring Joshua. It is recorded in Numbers 13 and concerns the exploration or Canaan and the resulting report. 

The men sent to explore Canaan are often called spies but this is true only in part. Their primary designation of the 12 was "leaders" (numbers 13:2). So they were leaders given a task by Moses. 

If you're a Leader act like a Leader!

These men would have been responsible for the spiritual leadership of their tribes. They would have been aware of all God had done and all He promised to do but once they see the enemy they begin to forget their role. It is true that Moses wanted a full account (Number 13:18-20) but this was so he could develop tactics for taking the land not so he could decide whether to fight for it or not.

Stay true to your God given Vision

The Israelites had been promised a land of milk and honey. Indeed God even told them who was living in the land (Exodus 3:8-10). So how was it that when they spied the land and saw it had not only the promised provision, but also the predicted occupants, that they panicked? Well before we are hard on these guys let's take a reality check. It is the way of humans. Even though God told Adam & Eve  the consequences of sin, they still freely entered into a pact with the devil. Truthfully, we cannot leave the blame there because there are frequent times when I have doubted the things that God has promised me. When I have chosen what seemed to be the easy option to the "road less travelled" The fact is often when I see the size of the enemy I forget the size of God. It is the test of faith to work in partnership with God than go our own way.

Gifting will get you so far.....

God has given each of use gifts. There are some things that we can just do or things that expend little effort to achieve as a result of our God given shape.  However God wants us to rely on Him, work with Him, deliver things that are only possible because He showed up. So when your plans and ambitions are doable get back on your knees & ask God what He wants to accomplish through you!

Back to the story....So 10 of the leaders admitted that the land was all the had been promised but then began to give reasons & excuses why they should not take the land. Only Caleb & Joshua trusted in God. The fact that the majority  saw the situation one way encouraged their followers back into default mode of complaining, negativity & regret. Which reminds me:

God doesn't need your vote or approval!

God does not require a democracy. When it comes to politics I am all about getting power to the widest number of people. When it comes to the Kingdom of God I have learnt that anyone in line with God is already in the majority. The vast majority of the Israelites thought it was a bad idea to enter the promised land.....the vast majority of people were wrong! The consequences were 40 years of wandering in the desert (1 year for ever day the spies were in the land). Let me say is again 1 disciple + God is the majority. I am aware that this can be a challenge to some of systems of church government but I cannot easily get beyond this thinking....

Finally, I am impressed by the fact that even though the people rebel and go against the impassioned advice & plea of Joshua he continues to serve faithfully & with grace. He clearly can see that the people have made a mistake but he is aware of the role God has given him. I can imagine that in the same circumstances I may have easily walked away from these ridiculous people or at least spent the next 40 years grumbling or saying "I told you so". 

On my good days when I feel that spirit rising up within me I say "I choose not to be that person. God wants and expects more from me". It is a principal that has stood me in good stead & one that I need to frequently remind myself of!

All of this experience was preparing Joshua for the the realm of leadership that God had chosen him for. We will see this during the next in this series.

Please feel free to comment on any aspect of this post.

Ignite Advent Calendar - Day 24 - Rob Parsons

On the final day of the Ignite Advent Calendar, Rob Parsons from Care for the Family shares a powerful message

 

Ignite Advent Calendar - Day 23 - For King and Country

Watch my friends Joel and Luke from For King and Country share a message from Philippians:

 

Ignite Advent Calendar - Day 222 - Mark Beacher

Watch Mark share the story of Zaccheus from Luke 19

 

 

Ignite Advent Calendar - Day 21 - Chris Lawrence

A really inspiring verse today. Watch it now!

 

Ignite Advent Calendar - Day 20 - Dai Hankey

Posting this a day late but you will enjoy it anyway!