Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP 13 Sep 2025
Text: Numbers 27:12-23
Title: “A man in whom is the Spirit”

INTRODUCTION

1. Spiritual leadership

a. Crucial in leading the people of God

b. Vital in the continuity of God’s work and plan

2. The choice of the spiritual leader

a. Important

b. Affects all

THE CONCLUSION OF MOSES’ MINISTRY

1. Moses as the leader of Israel

a. Chosen by God Exodus 3

b. Moses’ leadership of the people of Israel

i. Led them out of Egypt and throughout the wilderness journey

ii. Received and taught the people the commandments of God

iii. Oversaw the building of the Tabernacle

iv. Dealing with problems that arose

2. The conclusion of Moses’ ministry

a. Initiated by God

b. Moses to go up to Mount Abarim Numbers 27:12-13

i. This would be the conclusion of Moses’ ministry as leader of Israel

ii. He would see but not enter the Promised Land

iii. He would soon be gathered to his people

c. Reason for not entering the Promised Land Numbers 27:14

i. Moses had rebelled against God’s command in the Wilderness of Zin
cf. Numbers 20:1-13

ii. The consequence for this act of disobedience was Moses not being allowed to enter into the Promised Land

THE PRAYER OF MOSES

1. Moses’ humility

a. He humbly accepted the consequences of his sin

b. He would be obedient to God’s Word

2. Moses’ heart of a shepherd

a. He chose to pray for the people

b. That they would have a new leader to lead them

3. Moses’ prayer Numbers 27:15-17

a. For the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh

b. To set a man over the congregation

i. Who may go out before them and go in before them

ii. Who may lead them out and bring them in

c. That the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd

THE INAUGURATION OF JOSHUA AS THE NEXT LEADER

1. God’s response to the prayer of Moses Numbers 27:18-21

a. Joshua the son of Nun was named and set apart to lead

b. There were others who were faithful

i. Caleb who with Joshua, followed the LORD fully Numbers 14:24

ii. Eleazar who had been serving faithfully as high priest after Aaron
Numbers 20:28

iii. Phinehas who was zealous for the LORD Numbers 25:10-11

c. But Joshua was selected as leader

i. Because he distinctively had the Spirit of God in his life

ii. He was “a man in whom was the Spirit” Numbers 27:18

2. Appreciating how Joshua became one in whom was the Spirit

a. Took courage and led the physical battle against Amalek whilst Moses prayed
Exodus 17

b. Served faithfully and humbly as Moses’ assistant Exodus 24:13

c. Devotion to the LORD’s work and did not depart from the Tabernacle as he waited for Moses Exodus 33:11

d. Loyalty to Moses and honoured him as the spiritual leader Numbers 11:28

e. Faith in the LORD’s promises (alongside Caleb) Numbers 13-14

3. The inauguration of Joshua

a. God’s Word to Moses Numbers 27:18-21

i. To lay his hand on Joshua

ii. To set Joshua before Eleazar the priest and the congregation and to inaugurate him publicly

iii. To give some (not all) of his authority to Joshua

iv. Joshua would need to stand before Eleazar the priest who will inquire before the LORD for him

v. Joshua would need to lead the people in accordance to the LORD’s Word

b. Moses did all that the LORD commanded him Numbers 27:22-23

IMPORTANT LESSONS THAT WE MUST LEARN

1. Spiritual leadership

a. It begins and concludes with God’s choosing

b. A most important and necessary qualification for spiritual leadership – to have the Spirit of God in one’s life

c. Important principles of spiritual leadership

i. Accountability to God and His servants

ii. Obedience to the Word of the God

iii. Some authority may be given at the beginning, but one would need to prove oneself

2. Our challenge as young people

a. To be concerned about the spiritual leadership in the Church

b. To pray for the spiritual leadership for the Church

c. To rise up to the challenge of spiritual leadership in time to come

i. In God’s time and choosing

ii. Would the Spirit of God be in you?