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Passing On The Baton Of Faith (Part 2)
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Date Created:
12/4/2003
Author:
Malcom du Plessis
Scripture References:
Exodus 1:8 – 2:10, Exodus 2:11-14, Numbers 11:1-17, Exodus 32:19-20, Numbers 20:6-12, Exodus 33:11, Numbers 15:5-9, Joshua 6, Matthew 9:16-17, 1 Samuel 3:13b, 1 Samuel 1:2-20, 1 Samuel 3:2-18, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, 1 Samuel 9:1-2, 1 Samuel 9:7-8, 1 Samuel 10:27, 11:12-13, 1 Samuel 9:3a, 1 Samuel 17:37-40, 1 Samuel 22:1-2, 2 Kings 2. |
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Remember in part 1 we spoke about the intensity of the battle. We have an enemy who will do anything he can to prevent us from fulfilling our purpose, including intercepting the baton at the point of transfer. We mentioned that great havoc was stirred up just before Moses’ birth. The enemy did not want Moses to pick up the baton and run his portion of the race. So he tried to kill him. But God showed mercy. (Exodus 1:8 – 2:10) Moses did not begin his life in the school of God. He grew up in the Egyptian military. Hence his violent streak as a young man. (Exodus 2:11-14) But God showed mercy on him and when he fled to the desert, he was softened by God. In this resultant fragility, he was used to deliver the Israelites out of captivity. He was in the race at a critical time in history. But he was not able to go the distance. He was still an Egyptian authoritarian at heart. He struggled to share leadership with others. (Numbers 11:1-17) He broke the tablets in a fit of temper. (Exodus 32:19-20) Then later impatiently hit the rock instead of speaking to it. (Numbers 20:6-12) And the baton was handed on to his heir, Joshua, early. Joshua grew up in the move of God, as a son to Moses. As a “second generation ministry kid”, he was able to glean much from Moses’ experience. Even though Moses’ leadership had flaws, he had a remarkable relationship with God. Joshua spent many hours at the entrance of the tent, and experienced the supernatural. Exodus 33:11. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend ... his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Joshua was ready to receive the baton at an early age. He was full of faith. His God was bigger than the giants in the land. (Numbers 15:5-9) He was flexible and ready for anything, including marching around Jericho. (Joshua 6) During the 60s, there was great change in our world, including in the spiritual. A young generation found the Lord and made a great impact. Now, a generation later, we are seeing the emergence of a crop of second generation ministry kids, who are responding to the God of their parents.
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They have grown up experiencing the reality of God and are ready to join in the race. Even though things have not always been perfect, they have experienced the undeniable presence of God in corporate worship. Consequently many have developed musical skills so that they can participate in the worship teams in their local churches. This is truly a Joshua generation. They are tender spirited. Yet full of courage. They are ready to pick up the baton and run. Many of them will sprint harder and farther than their parents. Yes, there is a certain dissatisfaction with some of the cultural trappings of the previous generation. Consequently they are finding new expression. New wine is being poured into new wineskins. Matthew 9:16-17. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. It is exciting to see this new generation emerge.Just like Moses, many “first generation ministry parents” have not always been great examples. Eli, the priest, totally failed in his parenting. 1 Samuel 3:13b. ... (Eli’s) sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. As a result, the priestly baton was passed to young Samuel rather than his own sons. Because of Samuel’s unique birth and upbringing, (1 Samuel 1:2-20) he grew up extremely sensitive to the Lord. (1 Samuel 3:2-18) When he went to Jesse’s house in search of God’s anointed, he did not rush to make a decision, but he pressed Jesse to see if he had any other sons, and found David. (1 Samuel 16:1-13) The story of the tensions between Saul and David is possibly one of the most compelling accounts of baton transfer problems in the Bible.
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