Peter Tan-Chi - How God Develops Leaders
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Summary
In this sermon, Pastor Peter Tan-Chi explains how to develop godly leaders, using Joshua as the key example. He highlights four essential principles: obedience, faith, courage, and consecration, drawn primarily from the life of Joshua in Exodus, Numbers, and the book of Joshua. The main takeaway is that true leaders are built through intentional discipleship, submission to authority, trust in God’s promises, boldness to act in faith, and a fully surrendered life to God.
How to Develop Leaders
How do you develop leaders? That’s the question today. I want to share with you from the Bible how you must develop leaders.
Can you define for me what is the meaning of the word leader? Anybody? A leader is not a leader because he has a title. A leader is simply somebody who has influence. You want to be a positive influencer with or without a title. A leader will have followers because you are an influencer.
How can you be a positive influencer? If you are waiting for a title before you can influence people, you are not a leader. A real leader does not need a title. He will impact others. And that is what I want all of you to become. A real leader in the eyes of God.
Let us now look at how God develops leaders. I give you 4 principles. There are many more, but today I want to focus on Joshua. Why Joshua? Because you learn from the book of Joshua and writings about Joshua, he was young when he was used by Moses to become a leader.
So the first thing I want you to understand, to develop leaders, you have to teach them. Everybody say, obedience. So tell your neighbor, obedience.
Why is this important? Obedience is one of our core values. If you’re familiar with CCF, one of our core values is love. The next is obedience. L O V E, V stands for volunteer. We believe in volunteerism, not paid staff, volunteerism. What is E? Engage the family. But number 2 is obedience.
Principle #1: Obedience
The first time you encounter the word Joshua is found in Exodus chapter 17. The first mention of Joshua is in Exodus 17. Everybody, let’s read this together. «Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.’»
I want you to imagine now you are Joshua. Now that there’s going to be a war, Moses appointed you. What are you supposed to do? According to Moses, you are supposed to select, choose men. Next you have to go and fight.
What will Moses do? Just look at that verse. Moses told Joshua, excuse me, you go fight, but I will station myself on the top of the hill.
Now if you are Joshua, what will you say? (What in the world?) You are supposed to be the leader. You are supposed to lead the fight. You are asking me to fight and where will you be? On the hill?
My friend, Joshua trusted Moses. He obeyed.
What’s the point? You must understand, Joshua was trained by Moses when he was still young.
The Bible tells us in Exodus 33, «the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.»
In other words, Joshua was a young man. He was always with Moses.
If you look at the Bible, you’ll understand now intentional discipleship. What is intentional discipleship? Moses had Joshua. Elijah has Elisha, Paul has Timothy.
Now let me ask you, who is your Paul, who is your Timothy? All our pastors, including myself and my children, we all have Timothies. I am very intentional in developing others. I have a Paul, I’m accountable to a group of men.
You must be intentional. What do you teach? You teach them submission to authority. «Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth.»
Why do I say obedience is very important? Everybody read this: «A leader must first learn to obey before he can lead others effectively.»
That’s how we develop leaders. I tell all the Dgroup members, Dgroup leaders, check if they’re obedient or not, because obedience implies humility. Obedience implies willingness to learn.
You know, Warren Wiersbe used to say this, everybody together, ready go: «Before God uses a person greatly, He trains them deeply in the school of obedience».
There are different authorities mentioned in the Bible. For example, the first one is God. We have to submit everything to God. He is the ultimate authority. So you have the objective instructions of God, the Bible.
If somebody asks you to do anything against the Bible, what must you do? Well, learn to be like the apostles. Everybody read this: «Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.’»
In other words, any command that goes against the Bible, you don’t have to obey. Are we clear?
But seldom do I hear government or leaders or parents asking their followers to disobey the Bible. Seldom.
Next authority, Parental authority. Very clear. Start young. Next, you have the authority of the husband. Next, you have governmental authority. School, teachers, all of this. Employer, where you work for. Pastor/Church.
My friend, why is submission to authority important? Because 90% of God’s will is revealed through His designated authorities.
Let me repeat: 90% of God’s will is revealed through His designated authority. Think about it. It’s not hard to know God’s will, if you learn to submit to authorities.
My children, when they were growing up, I taught them foundational truth.
Let’s read this together: «Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.» Everybody, all of you who are still children, you are living with your parents, read this together.
«Honor—» everybody, those living with parents together, ready go. «Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise) so that it may be well with you, that you may live long on the earth.»
Why is this emphasized? The first commandment with a promise. Because submission to authority is foundational.
If you don’t teach young people to obey, someday when they go to school, there will be a problem. Someday when they go to work, there would be a problem. They don’t understand submission to authority. Everything would be a problem.
However, if you teach them to submit to authority, and the reason for submission to authority is because of God’s authority.
You see, when the Bible tells the wife, submit to your husband, the Bible is very emphatic because God has appointed the husband, and the husband is over the— God is over the husband, and because the wife submits to God, the wife does not mind submitting to the husband because God is bigger and stronger than the husband.
You see, the fear of submission is I will be abused. Ladies and gentlemen, if you believe in the sovereignty of God, God will use even those in authority who are taking advantage of you to mold your character.
But once your children understand this, parents, read this one more time. All parents read this. «Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.»
You know, when my children were growing up, we had agreements. For example, what are the agreements? They will never give their heart to the opposite sex. In short, they will never marry anybody without our blessing.
Why is that important? Because God gave parents special insights, wisdom. Children, if you learn to respect your parents, look at the promised blessing, the first commandment with a promise.
Everybody read: «that it may be well with you.»
So my whole point is this, if you teach people submission to authority, obedience, it is for their protection, it is for their blessing.
So leaders, learn to submit to authority. It’s so important.
Look at Joshua. So Moses asked Joshua to choose men. Everybody read, Joshua, Everybody read. «Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek. Moses, Aaron went up to the top of the hill.»
What did Joshua learn by obeying? Ladies and gentlemen, there are certain things in your life you will never learn until you obey. God used Moses to develop Joshua, taught him obedience.
A leader gives his training opportunities to exercise leadership. So this is an opportunity for Joshua to exercise leadership and to obey.
What did Joshua discover? Let’s read. «It came about—» okay, «when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he held his hand down, Amalek prevailed. Aaron and Hur supported (Moses’) hands, one on one side, one on the other. His hands were steady until the sun set.»
Everyone read: «So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.»
What did Joshua learn? The reality of spiritual warfare. You see, Moses was in the mountain praying. In the book of 1 Timothy, the Bible says, I want men to pray raising up holy hands.
In the Bible, when you raise your hands up, it’s a symbol of what? Praying. I’m not saying God only listens when you raise your hands, you can kneel down. But whatever it is, Joshua learned the power of prayer.
You see, victory is determined first by spiritual warfare.
But look at this verse, what did Joshua learn? Joshua learned the importance of teamwork. You see, you cannot just pray. You’ve got to fight. So Joshua did the physical fighting, Moses did the spiritual fighting.
What about these 2 guys, Aaron and Hur? What was their job? Their job was to support the hands of Moses, because it’s tiring.
In other words, there’s a lot of things you will learn when you obey God. But there are many things you will never learn until you obey.
So to develop leaders, what must you do? Teach them what? Obedience. Say that with me, Obedience.
Principle #2: Faith
Now next, Faith. Why is faith so important? Well, let me tell you something, the Bible tells us, everybody read: «We walk by faith, not by sight.»
Faith is very important because you are always tempted to use your physical sense, whether you’ll obey God or not. God is saying no, no. As Christians, we walk by faith, not by sight.
What is He talking about? There are many things you don’t feel like obeying. There are many things you feel like it doesn’t make sense. But when God asks you to do something, that’s called what? Obedience, Faith.
You will not obey until you really trust the Lord.
Now why is faith so important? Why do I teach that? Everybody read this together. Together, ready go: «And without faith it is impossible to please (God.)»
Do you understand the meaning of this verse? Without faith, you cannot please God, no matter what you do.
What is faith? Together: «he who comes to God must believe that He is—» and you must believe He is a rewarder.
Ah, so faith involves you must believe God is, He is God, all-powerful. But that’s not enough. What must you believe? That God is a rewarder.
Do you believe God is a rewarder? Yes or no? My friend, don’t be misled into thinking this is prosperity theology. This is Biblical theology.
Your concept of God is crucial. I believe in a good God. I believe God is a rewarder. I want my children, and I want our leaders to understand God is a good God, He is a rewarder to those who— what? There is a condition, «to those who seek Him.»
Now my question to you, what are you seeking after? Money, popularity, relationships? Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
A leader— to develop a leader, I teach them obedience, I teach them faith.
Now, faith will be tested. Faith is not faith in faith, it always has an object.
If you were here a few Sundays ago, I talked about the object of faith. Remember, what is the object of faith that is important? You exercise faith every day.
How many of you remember this picture? Well, you won’t recognize, but that’s my face. When we jumped, where are we putting our faith? On the parachute. The object of our faith is the parachute.
How many of you remember I did the bungee jump in the 2nd highest bungee jump in the world, in Tibet? You know, this cord I inspected. I asked them, where was this made from? Ah, New Zealand. Okay. Who is managing this bungee jump company? Ah, New Zealand? Okay.
My whole point is this, Faith always has an object. Now, let me ask you a question, what is the object of your faith today?
Until you train young people, until you train others to put their faith in God, they will not be good leaders. Leaders, good leaders have great faith in the great God.
So this is what happened to Joshua. «The LORD spoke to Moses, ‘Send out 12 men to spy the land.’» Remember that story?
Numbers 13-14, to me is the saddest chapters, the 2 saddest chapters in the entire Bible. Because the people were about to enter the Promised Land.
So Moses said, you send out spies. So they went to inspect the land, and this is the report. They came back. «’We went to the land where you sent us; ’» «Boss, the land is good.» «’and it does flow with milk and honey.’»
Look at the fruit, it’s a good land. Look at the 12 spies, the 10 said the following, the 10 out of 12, majority is not always correct.
«Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong.» So far, so true. «The cities are fortified.» Very true. Very large, that’s true. «Moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.»
The descendants of Anak are famous for giants. That’s where Goliath and his family— they are giants, okay? They are very tall, they are big.
Now continue reading, «The men who had gone up with him—» concluded. They saw exactly the same thing. They saw exactly the same thing, Joshua and the others, but look at the conclusion, walking by faith and not walking by faith.
«We, » everybody read, «’We are not able to go up against the people, they are too strong.’» That’s their conclusion. «So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report. ‘The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours.’»
Notice when you don’t have faith, you now exaggerate the problems. «’—Devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw (in the land) are men of great size.’»
Remember, when you don’t walk by faith, you focus on problems, you focus on obstacles. «’And we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.’»
You see, ladies and gentlemen, the way you conclude when you see things, is based on your perspective. Do you see things from the lens of the Bible, from the lens of God, or from your own human ideas?
Their conclusion, we cannot enter.
I love this quotation by F.B. Meyer: «The 10 spies compared themselves with the giants, while the 2, Joshua and Caleb, compared the giants with God.»
Faith is the ability to look at circumstances with the lens of God’s character, God’s promises, God’s word. The object of faith is always God’s character, His promises, His word.
How do you look at problems today? Why do I say it’s the saddest chapter? Look at the faith of Joshua and company.
Joshua the son of Nun, Caleb said they «spoke to the congregation of the sons of Israel, ‘the land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us— a land flows with milk and honey.’»
Only— now notice, he gave them negatives, 2 negatives. «Only do not rebel against the LORD.» Number 2, «do not fear the people.» «Their protection has been removed from them.»
Everybody read now, «the LORD is with us;» that’s faith, «do not fear them.»
But you know what? Look at the people, this is crazy. «All the congregation said to stone them with stones.»
How did that happen? You know, unbelief, if you don’t walk by faith, you’re going to do a lot of crazy stuff. You will disobey, you will act irrationally in the eyes of God.
That’s why I call this the saddest chapter. You must understand, they got out of Egypt, they were slaves and now they’re about to enter the Promised Land.
God told them, «I saved you from Egypt, you saw My power, you saw how I opened the Red sea, how I provided food for you, how I gave you victory and now I’ll be with you, let’s enter the Promised Land.»
What did they do? Unbelief, lack of faith, is not something to look trivial— trivially, it’s not trivial. Unbelief is a very serious sin.
You know why? This is something I want you to read. There are consequences when you do not act out in faith because of unbelief, because of disobedience.
Everybody read: «’How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints which they are making against Me.’»
You see, lack of faith will always result in grumbling and complaining. How will I know whether you’re a man or a woman of faith? I will ask your family members, are you a grumbler, complainer, always complaining?
If you are always complaining, that means you lack faith. You don’t know how to give thanks in the midst of problems, you are not able to say, «Lord, I thank You, You are in control, You have a good plan for me.»
Because you are always grumbling, always complaining. That is exactly how these people behaved.
Now let me ask you, can you ask your neighbor, Are you a complainer or a grumbler? (Please ask them.) Oh ha! How did you answer? Oh. (No pointing fingers!) Don’t point at each other. I’m just asking you.
Now, you ask yourself, are you somebody who is thankful all the time or are you a complainer?
Why is this the saddest chapter? Look, because of their unbelief, they’re grumbling, they’re complaining. Every time you grumble and complain, it’s against God.
Let me repeat, you are not grumbling against people. When you grumble against your family members, ultimately it’s against God.
So God is saying, «They are grumbling not against you Moses, they are grumbling against Me.» You think God is happy?
«’Your corpses will fall in this wilderness, according to your complete number from 20 years old upward, who have grumbled against Me.’»
In short, anybody that is 20 years old and upward, all of them died in the wilderness. Not one of them entered the Promised Land.
That is why I call this the saddest chapter. The Promised Land is there, but because of unbelief, none of you will enter the Promised Land except Joshua and Caleb and those below 20 years old.
«’Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb and Joshua.’»
My friend, how do you develop leaders? #1 Obedience. But obedience will be hard if you don’t teach them faith.
Principle #3: Courage
Next, Courage. Why is courage important? Let me give you a definition of courage, Okay. Courage is not the absence of fear. Everybody read. It is the inner strength to do what is right. It is a decision to act in faith despite fear. It is trusting in God’s faithfulness, power and leaving the consequences to Him.
The truth is this, all of us have fears. There’s nothing wrong with being afraid but don’t stay in fear. Joshua needed courage.
Let’s read this together: «’Moses My servant is dead; arise, cross this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I’m going to show you.’»
Now look, God knew Joshua was fearful because Moses died. And now it is his job. God gave him a mission. «You bring these people to the Promised Land.»
God gave Joshua a promise, promises. Everybody read: «’Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given them to you, ’» Everybody read now, «’No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life.’»
Everybody read: «’as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.’»
God promised Joshua victory. God promised Joshua, «I will be with you, I will not fail you, I will not forsake you.»
Everybody read the next verse. «’Be strong and courageous, you shall give these people possession.’»
Notice, Be strong, be courageous.
How do you develop leaders? #1 Obedience. #2 Faith. #3 Courage.
How do you develop courage? Understand God’s promises, His word. Look, simple formula. «This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth.» Everybody read.
«You shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it, and then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.»
Ladies and gentlemen, how many of you read the Bible every day? Raise your hands. Hallelujah! More and more people.
How many of you have read the entire Bible? Raise your hands.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you believe the Bible is the word of God, what is preventing you from reading the entire Bible? I will tell you— Satan.
Satan does not want you to read the Bible because once you know who God is from the Bible, you know His promises, you’ll be a changed person.
And that’s why religion cannot transform you, it is God’s word.
Everybody read this. Ready go: «Do not tremble or be dismayed…»
What is God’s command? Be strong, be courageous.
This is amazing. Joshua was courageous. But here’s an example: «The LORD said to Joshua, ‘I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and valiant warriors.’»
Notice, God told Joshua, the first obstacle to enter the Promised Land is the city of Jericho. So God says conquer the city.
How shall I conquer the city? God gave Joshua a plan. «’You shall march around the city, circling the city once… (every day) for 6 days. On the 7th day, you shall march around the city 7 times, and in the meantime the priests shall carry 7 trumpets and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up, every man straight ahead.’»
So that is the most amazing battle plan you can study in the Philippine Military Academy. It’s crazy.
My friend, when there’s a war, how do you conquer the city? You will use what? Battering ram, maybe you build siege tower. Yes or no? What is the battle plan?
God told Joshua, simple, go around. How many days? No, 7 days. On the 7th day, How many times will you go around? 7.
And then after 7 days, what will happen? You must shout.
Just think, just think. You know, I’m thinking if I were Joshua and I’m marching around the city, you know what all the people are doing there? That guy’s crazy, that crazy.
What are they doing? My friend, courage is the willingness to take risks. Because we fear failure, we fear people will laugh at us.
We know what Joshua did? He followed God. When did the wall collapse? On the 5th day? On the 6th day? When? 7th.
When? When they went around, how many times?
You see, if I were Joshua, on the 7th day, I will see if the wall is cracking or not. No cracks, my friend.
But eventually, on the 7th day, 7th time no crack, but when they shouted, wow, this is Chinese kung fu.
What happened to the wall? The wall collapsed, my friend. Is God amazing, yes or no?
That my friend is called courage. The Bible says by faith, the wall of Jericho fell.
My friend, I like all of you, especially young people, to have courage to speak the truth in love. Amen?
Principle #4: Consecration
And lastly, remember, you must not only have faith, you must not only have courage, you must live a consecrated life.
What is a consecrated life? Courage does not give up.
You see, Joshua encountered failure, after the wall of Jericho fell down, Joshua was shocked. The next city, they were defeated.
But you see, courage will help you keep on doing what is right. You know, Joshua prayed. Lord, what happened? Why did we fail? Why did you bring these people here to allow us to be defeated?
Let me explain to you what is the meaning of consecration. The word consecrate means to set apart, to dedicate, to devote, to surrender one’s life fully to God, to surrender your failures, your past, hurts, shame, everything. You surrender everything to God.
You know, in the midst of failure, I want you to be courageous. Don’t give up.
«The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Israel has sinned, therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. Rise up! ’» Everybody read. «Consecrate the people. Consecrate yourselves.»
They are commanded to set apart. How do you consecrate yourselves? Everybody read. «You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.»
In other words, if you are keeping something, holding on to something that is not pleasing to God, God is saying, you will not be able to stand before your enemies. You will not be successful, you will surely fail.
You must consecrate. You see, consecration is surrendering everything.
Now I don’t know what is, what is it in your life that God is asking you today, surrender it. Consecrate. Give it back to God.
What is it? Is it a relationship? Is it money? Is it unforgiveness? Is it bitterness?
I don’t know about your moral life. I don’t know what you do privately, but God is telling you, consecrate the people, consecrate yourselves.
You cannot stand before your enemy until you consecrate yourself.
My friend, «Joshua said to the people, » this is even before this event. What I’m trying to share with you, this is a lifetime. You consecrate every day.
«’Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow The LORD will do wonders among you.’»
God told Joshua, you consecrate. You see, when you consecrate your life to God, if you live in obedience, faith, courage, and consecration, you know what you will experience? At the end of your life the wonders of God.
«’Today I’m going the way of all the earth, you know in all your hearts, in all your souls, not one word of the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.’»
You know what you’ll experience? You will experience God’s faithfulness.
I’ve been following Jesus for many years. As I look back, It’s over 50-plus years, I’ve been serving the Lord. You know what, I have no regrets. I’ll keep on serving God because not one of God’s promises has failed. God is faithful.
And the Bible tells us at the end of Joshua’s life, look at his consecrated life. He said, «’If it is disagreeable in your sight— choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.’»
You see, consecration is a choice. Today, God is asking you to choose who will you serve?
Look at me, you are always serving something. You are always serving someone. Either it’s money, it’s yourself, your children, your own agenda. But you are serving something or someone. We all have idols.
I don’t know what’s your idol, but Joshua is now telling his people, at the end of his life, he is over 100 years old.
At the end of his life, what is he saying? Amazing. You know what he’s saying? Everybody read: «’choose for yourselves today whom you will serve, whether the gods which your forefathers served, (your past life or your current life,) the gods of the Amorites.’»
Who are you serving today? But look at what he’s saying, Everybody read: «’As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.’»
I don’t know about you. Many of you can say, As for me, what about your house? Can you honestly say, As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.
Some of you are not able to say my house. You have neglected discipling your own family.
I challenge all of you starting today, start thinking of the people around you. Be a good example. Obey. Be a good example of faith. Be a good example of courage. Do what is right.
I’m warning you, to speak out the truth in love is scary today. People will cancel you, people will criticize you.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us keep on following the Lord with courage and live a consecrated life. To God be the glory.
Final Prayer and Invitation
Let’s bow our heads. I want you to ask yourself today, are you fully consecrated to the Lord?
If you have not surrendered your life to Him, if you’re holding back on something, I want you to surrender that to the Lord.
If there is something in your life today you want me to pray for, will you raise your hands? Good, many of you. I’ll pray for you that you will surrender whatever is not pleasing to God.
It can be a sinful relationship. It can be a business that’s not giving honor to God. Whatever it is, you want to surrender that, raise your hands. Praise God. Anybody else?
Alright, all of you, you need to surrender something the Lord, whatever it is between you and God. I want to pray for you wherever you are, stand up. Right now, stand up.
Between you and the Lord, you need to surrender something. Anybody else? Praise God. Many, many of you.
This is not to impress people, it’s between you and God. Some of you are full of self. You are self-centered. You have not surrendered your pride, your ego.
Perhaps some of you, it’s your old religion. Whatever it is, or your love of money, you need to surrender that.
God is saying you will never stand before your enemies until you surrender your all.
Father God in heaven, I now pray for this group of men and women who are surrendering, whatever that is in their lives.
Will You, Lord Jesus, assure them that if we surrender, if we consecrate our lives, You are more than willing, more than happy to accept our repentance. More than happy to bless us because it is Your heart, it is Your intention to allow Your children to experience Your best.
But many times we prevent Your best because of our disobedience, because of our idolatry.
Lord Jesus, I now pray for everybody here— and those of you are standing up. Pray this prayer.
Lord Jesus, here I am. I surrender my all. Thank You. Today I will consecrate my life, I will serve you for the rest of my life.
In Jesus’ name we all pray, Amen and amen.