It doesn't take much for a leader to make a bad decision that can affect people for years. The tragedy is, that for a Christian leader, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Joshua found this out the hard way. He and his leaders were having great success as they conquered the enemies in the Promised Land.
They were so successful that the Gibeonites knew they would be next. So, they deceived them by putting on old clothes, going to the Israelites and telling them they came from a far land and wanted to strike a covenant of peace. Israel made a deadly decision which allowed the Gibeonites to become a thorn in their side for decades.
THE FATAL STEP
""So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord."" (Joshua 9:14)
God was waiting and would have exposed this lie if the Israelites had just taken time to ask Him. They assumed that things were fine and underestimated their enemy.
A leader can't afford to assume anything. He is charged with the responsibility to oversee his home and all those entrusted to his care. It is a serious and sacred task.
God has made Himself accessible to any leader who will take the time to listen to Him. He has given us His Word, His Spirit, and His church as a three-fold means of discovering His will.
He will give the leader excellent direction if asked. Not only are the lives of people, but also God’s glory is at stake.
Are you making some assumptions right now? Headed into a place of blind defeat, simply because you are not asking for the counsel of the Lord?
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The rapid spread of the church in the New Testament can only be attributed to two things: the gracious, miraculous activity of the Holy Spirit and the bold witness of His followers. If God had not moved, nothing would have happened. If believers had not shared the gospel, the movement would have stalled.
