Legacy Lessons W/Vance K. JacksonSample

“Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:6-7 ‬‬

You are Called to conquer. Joshua was created to conquer. Joshua, the servant of Moses, submitted to God. Joshua, the successor of Moses, was charged to conquer territories. Joshua, the “Economic Deliverer,” was Called to distribute and divide the inheritance of countries to the Children of Israel.

Joshua submitted to Moses and inherited the Promise. Joshua was built to lead multiple generations—Caleb and the new generation of Israelites. Joshua was built to lead and conquer. Joshua the ‘Economic Deliverer’ called to conquer countries, mountains, and terrains. Joshua was strategic in his warfare approach. Every city he conquered, he followed God. Every country he conquered, he wholly followed God.

Follow God in your approach to business. Follow God in your approach to leadership. Follow God in your approach to ministry. Follow God in your approach to building legacy. When Joshua obeyed God, the Children of Israel excelled and conquered countries.

When the Children of Israel obeyed God, they conquered. Obedience produces success. Obedience produces successors. Obedience produces conquerors. Obedience produces leaders. Obedience produces courageous leaders. Turn not from the Word of the Lord. Follow His Instructions day and night.

Be not discouraged. Be not distracted. Turn not to the right hand or to the left. For when you follow His Word, you will prosper whithersoever thou goest. Whether you’re in the Boardroom or in ministry—in private or in public, in business or in media, in government shaping policy, or within the walls of your family—choose to follow His Word.

Obey His Word, both day and night. Like Joshua, as you choose to obey the Voice of God, He will lead you, guide you, and cause you to prosper. In fact, while Joshua warred and conquered, he submitted his sword to God. He submitted his hands to God. He submitted his tongue to God.

“And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, Until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.” Joshua‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬.

The sun stood still. As God fought for Israel, God hearkened unto the voice of Joshua, and the sun stood still. As Moses’ successor fought for Israel, his words didn’t strive against God. When it’s time to speak, the world needs to know that your voice is credible. In fact, Joshua’s heart, his hand, his sword, and tongue were all in line with what God was doing for Israel. God wants to work through you.

Moses didn’t enter into the Promised Land because of his tongue—because of his temper. His disobedience caused him to forfeit the Promise. Emotional intelligence is critical for your success. Emotional deliverance is just as important as economic deliverance. Joshua, the “Generational Economic Deliverer” who led the Children of Israel around the wall of Jericho, submitted his emotions to God.

Notice, one of Joshua’s first conquests was an emotional test found in Joshua‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬, “And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.”

Joshua, the new leader of the Children of Israel, commanded the Army of Israel: “Don’t make any noise, don’t complain, don’t murmur, hold your tongue until the day I bid you to shout—then you shall shout.”

The stiff-necked and hardened heart of Israel in the former generation prolonged their wilderness season due to their disobedience and hardened heart. Jericho belonged to Israel if they passed the emotional test—to keep silent and obey their leader circling around the wall until Joshua gave the order to shout.

Stay silent until it’s time to speak. Notice, the test that Moses had failed—Joshua and the Children of Israel had to pass.

“And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.” Numbers‬ ‭20‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬.

Moses was supposed to ‘speak to the rock,’ and water would have come out. Instead he hit the rock, twice, out of frustration, and water came out. Although he still received the same results, how he got the results mattered to God.

Just because you “get the job done” and achieve the results needed—how you get the results matters to God. Because of the emotional outburst, Moses and Aaron forfeited the Promise. God told Moses to ‘speak to the rock,’ and water will gush out.

God told Joshua to shout at the wall of Jericho after they walked around it, and it would come down. Joshua had to pass this emotional test. Moses failed, while Joshua, his successor, succeeded.

Successors not only continue the success of the past—successors learn from the mistakes of the past. Joshua went on to successfully take mountains, conquer cities, countries, and he divided the inheritance among the Children of Israel. Obedience will propel your legacy.

For more resources: This Bible Plan is adapted from Vance K. Jackson book: Legacy: God Honors The Heart. Used with permission from 5th Gen Publishing. (Content has been altered for brevity.)