Text: Numbers 27:18-23

You know that you are getting old when: When everything that works hurts, and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work. You try to straighten out the wrinkles in your socks and discover you aren’t wearing any. You look forward to a dull evening. Your knees buckle and your belt won’t. When your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio. You sit in a rocking chair and can’t get it going.

Title: “There is always a next leader.”

Theme: “Moses knew his God! Therefore, he was happy to trust that His purposes are always best. But Moses was concerned for the Hebrew people and their future. He did not want them to be like ‘sheep without a shepherd’.  So, he asked that God would provide a spiritual leader for the people. For the past two years the Elders have been planning for a new leader to come and take my place to lead God’s Church. Next Sunday, we will be following in the footsteps of Moses and Joshua. Authority will pass from one man to another, but God’s people will be OK.”

* This morning, I would like to share with you the following lessons.

1. God chooses the leaders.

Numbers 27:15-17; “Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, ¹⁶ “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation ¹⁷ who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.”

* Though Moses was about to die, he didn’t think about himself but about the future of the nation. His great concern was that God provide a spiritual leader for the people, for they were as sheep.

1 Kings 22:17; “And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.” The prophet Micaiah is talking about King Ahab, and it comes to pass.  Jesus had this to say in the New Testament. Matthew 9:36; “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

* For over two years I have been talking to you about Transitioning.  It simply means my time ends and someone else takes over.  I have had many ask me how I am doing in the process?  I sort of describe it as picking out your own casket and cemetery plot. I think this has been the hardest thing God has asked me to do.

* I will have to say God has been in the process each step of the way and it so amazing to see how things worked out.  Next week FBCR will have a new senior pastor.

2. The laying on of hands and transfer of authority is important.

Numbers 27:18-20; “So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. ¹⁹ Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. ²⁰ You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.”

* Beloved, the first thing you should notice is that God has something to say about Joshua.  Joshua had the Spirit of God (verse 18).  You cannot lead God’s people with out God’s Spirit.

* During this process the Elders have been looking for a man who has God’s Spirit.  We feel that Allen had been given to us by the Lord.  He is faithful in his ministry, his marriage and his family.

* Transfer of power requires only a simple, straightforward, but elegant ceremony in which Moses leans his hand on Joshua and then commissions (lit., “commanded/charged”) him while he stands before Eleazar the high priest and the whole assembly.

* Next Sunday we will be laying hands on Allen, commissioning him and I will give him some of my authority.  He will need these things in his ministry as he leads FBCR into the future.

* In verse 20, I must point out that the Congregations responsibility is to obey and follow.  Thank you for doing this for me as I led this, Church.  You have always been gracious and supportive of me and my leadership.  I know you will do the same for pastor Allen.

3. God’s leader must stand before the Lord for the people.

Numbers 27:21-23; “²¹ And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.” ²² And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, ²³ and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses.”

* God has decided that it is time for Moses to move on. Moses will soon be ‘Promoted to Glory’. The 8th century American evangelist D. L. Moody: said these words just before he died; “This is my triumph; this is my coronation day! It is glorious!"

* When you read the Book of Joshua, you see that he was concerned for the glory of God and the welfare of the people, and that he was careful to obey the orders God gave him. The two times Joshua didn’t seek God’s will, he brought the nation into shameful defeat (Josh 7; Achan’s sin and 9 fooled by the people of Gibeon), but to his credit, he trusted God to make his mistakes work out successfully in the end.

* Joshua is told if he would keep the word of God in his heart, meditate on it day and night, putting in practice what he reads and do it, He would have good success.

Joshua 1:8; “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  ⁹ 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.”

* After the crucifixion Jesus prepared His disciples for the future.  Turn with me to John 21:15-17; “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

* Beloved, God’s leaders are to love Him, feed the flock, and tend His sheep. Pray that Allen will master these leadership skills.

* By the way its ok to mourn. Deuteronomy 34:8; “And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.”

* Beloved, the things that I am the proudest of in my ministry are you.  Your love for God, your spiritual grown, your steps of faith make me very proud. My prayer is that you will continue to carry my legacy through the actions of your lives.

* I shall spend the remainder of my days with Mrs. Lynn. When Sir Winston Churchill resigned from politics many could not understand.  Sir Winston was persuaded to give his remaining years in companionship and affection. The 81-year-old statesman had made a promise. The promise was to Clementine Hozier, his wife since 1908, the late, great man commented about the companionship, “I was married and lived happily ever afterward.”

 

In Scotland many years ago, the pastor of a small village church was visited by one of his deacons before service one Sunday morning. As the pastor brought out some coffee for them to share, he could tell by the deacon’s demeanor that something was weighing heavily upon him. Finally, the deacon said: "I came early to meet you as there is something that me and the other deacons have been talking about that we want you to consider. There must be something wrong with your preaching and ministry; there has been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he is only a boy." What a way to start a Sunday morning! The minister went into the pulpit that day with a grieved and heavy heart. After service he wished to be alone and lingered in the church after everyone else left so he could pray. He cried out to God asking why his efforts seem to be in vain despite him doing his best for God and living a holy life before him. After a while of pouring his heart out to God at the altar, he became conscious that he was not alone. He looked up and saw that it was the boy, Bobby, that had become a Christian in the last year. The pastor asked, "Well, Bobby, what is it?" Bobby replied, "Do you think if I were willing to work hard for an education, I could ever become a preacher? A preacher? —Perhaps a missionary?" There was a long pause, and tears filled the eyes of the old minister. At length he said, "This heals the ache in my heart, Bobby. I see the divine hand now. Yes, I think you will become a preacher." That boy was Robert Moffat. The boy that the deacons wrote off as an insignificant fruit of the old pastor’s labor became a name known in the courts of heaven. In fact, the measure of the old minister's reward will be found in the gathered fruit of the labor of Robert Moffat. If that name is not familiar to you Robert became the great African missionary who translated the entire bible into the local language, so the native people would read God’s word for themselves. Perhaps Moffat’s greatest influence on missions’ history is through his relationship with David Livingstone, who ultimately become his son-in-law. On his first trip back to the United Kingdom from South Africa, Livingstone asked Moffat if he too could be useful in Africa. Moffat encouraged him to do so, particularly in an area where Christ had not yet been named. “In the north I have seen in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been.”⁷ Moffat’s daughter, Mary, married Livingstone, and the world was profoundly changed.