Report of M04: P-J Smythe – Joshua part 2 - A New Phase in the Kingdom

Joshua 10

The book of Joshua is an account of God bringing his people into their inheritance.
He takes them across the Jordan, into some big battles
At the half way mark, chapter 13, the page is turned and there is a new phase
- For the first half there is a new leader and a real togetherness
- 10:29 “then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on”
- Same kind of language in v.31, v.34, v.36, v.38, v.43, 11:7, 12:7
13:1 begins the new phase when Joshua is well advanced in years
- Joshua is old and there are still large tracts of land to take
- He gives them a new plan: the land and the people are distributed
- They all receive their allotment—their area to conquer
- If Israel was to hold on to all the land that had been won during their “together” exploits, there needs to be a dividing up and putting things in place.
This second phase of Joshua is pivotal to any ministry in the church
- Otherwise we run a risk of HQ ism, leading to frustration
- but if we move into the second era looking for self-fulfillment, then it can breed unhealthy individualism.

Their role was not as visible as the other roles and territories given
Some people have a very well defined and pinned down role in the church
A Levite-type ministry is one that is not so visible—maybe a prayer or prophetic ministry
- The inheritance is from God
Another ministry is one of friendship
The role of Levites in a church is critical. There is a role in not having a role

Asked the father for a special favour
Do not hide behind your man or another leader
Go to God direct —he has things for you!
We need to have the Achsah spirit and go for special favours
Don’t just “be grateful for what you have got”, but keep asking God for more special favours
- More giftings, more blessing in ministry and growth
- Be cheeky. We have a God who loves to bless his daughter
- Simon Petit used to pray, “Lord, you say we do not have because we do not ask. Well here we are Lord!”
Tomorrow when we pray together we are going to be cheeky

This is a bit sobering—they could not dislodge the Jebusites
- In Judges 3 there were people who didn’t have battle experience and needed it
- Every generation needs to have battle experience

I need more of an inheritance because I am larger
Joshua tells them that since they are so big, they are welcome to clear more land for themselves
They complain that even this is not enough, because the Canaanites have iron chariots
Joshua encourages them to go for everything
Emerging leaders can learn from this
- We can depend on others—I need a budget and leaders
- We can’t ask other people to clear our land for us but sometimes need to depend on God for ourselves
Joshua leaders can learn from this
- Resist doing it too much for them. Let them do it, it will allow their gift to make way for them
- But DO prophesy life and faith into them as Joshua did
- But beware that you are not just rostering promotion. You must keep looking for the gifting of God
The second part of Joshua is about maturing each part of the body into its own area
- The keyboard player uses his hands, not his feet. Every part has its own unique role to play
  - It would be ridiculous for the foot to start moaning and complaining!
- Every tribe has it’s own role.

Judah got more than they needed, so some of it was given to Simeon
Our territory might overlap with another’s or be within another’s
Some of us are number 2 type leaders.
Part of this thrilling new season is learning to drink from “the other guy”
- Crete’s inheritance came from Paul via Titus. Let us be content with the Tituses (or Titii?)

Two and a half tribes got an inheritance the other side of the Jordan
It looked like maybe a spirit of rebellion? But it was actually the opposite
- But actually it was the opposite. It was a witness to their unity in the Lord
On being entrusted with your own territory, take such rapid and excellent initiative that you even risk being thought of as a rebel.
If we are to fulfill our inheritance, then leaders at every level need to rise up
Terry said “part of me says we can’t go much further without you all being all who you should be in God”
- We need to have checks and balances, so it is not really rebellion
- These leaders made sure that the next generation knew who they were in the larger body
- There are increasing “Jordans” that could confuse the next generation
- Age diversity, cultural diversity, stylistic diversity, geography.
- We need to be mindful of these Jordans
We have “altars of togetherness”
- Relationship, promises made to each other, meetings together
- A magazine comes out that says “Let’s get into healings” then this is an alter of togetherness—who we are together in the Lord
- There are some balls we can only get over the line if we are rucking together
God is going to give us breakthrough in signs and wonders as we gather for this
- He loves to say yes to his people