Whoever God has chosen to lead the work anywhere in the world must assert their authority; after all, that person was chosen as a leader. Where the commander does not have the final word, the work will not move forward, because Satan will not cease to bring temptation to thwart the divine plan. Unfortunately, many people will have to account for their stewardship and will not find a just reason to answer for the failure they sponsored!

        Some fell because of adultery, and that is very sad. Some were entrusted with the direction of God's work, but they became corrupt and sullied themselves like the lost; others embraced homosexuality, and there are still those who have strayed into dishonesty and other sins. These people do not believe in the judgment seat of Christ, guaranteed by the Word, where they will have to explain their defeat (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Joshua’s order was to lift the ark. The pastors must keep the Ark – Jesus Christ – well elevated so that people do not lose their way. If the leader does not raise the Ark to the position determined by the Most High, the church members will begin to lose interest in attending services, in dedicating themselves to God, and will then be compared to the church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22).

        That artifact was called the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's Covenant with Israel, so that they would serve Him faithfully and be served by Him. The vision of the ark would give them the secure position to cross the Jordan River, and no one would stray. If the leader does not lift Jesus before the followers, the church will perish. We do not live in the position we hold before the world, but rather by the election of the Commander of the Church (John 15:16).

The priests had the obligation to go ahead of the people, where there are all kinds of people: adulterers, thieves, liars, and others far from the Truth. For those who have not yet realized that the Gospel is the power of God to save the lost, we have the obligation to preach, fighting the good fight until we finish the race and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). Failing to do what He commanded is declaring oneself prepared to spend eternity in the lake of fire and brimstone. Pray!

         Those priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant did not let shame and discouragement take over, but, resolutely, they placed it on their shoulders so that everyone could see it from a certain distance. Observe how the revelation of the fear of God is seen in the work you lead. The demon of laziness and those of other sins want to make you responsible for the deviation of so many precious lives, which are in sin and idleness!

         Never forget: walk ahead of the people. You have reached the position of greatest prominence, and your responsibility to make the light shine for all those who see you as a God’s servant will be evaluated at the judgment seat of Christ. Meditate on the revelation of the Lord: Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!”  (Luke 17:1). Watch out!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares