Sermon || Pastor Sifiso Twala || The Apostolic Era

Devotional

Day 1: Courage to embrace new leadership and mandate

God declares an end of an era and calls a new generation to arise; believers must intentionally leave behind familiar patterns tied to a previous leader, step into the land God promises with boldness, meditate on His word, and trust that He will not leave or forsake them as they take hold of the next level.[06:08]

Joshua 1:1-9 (ESV)

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the great sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Reflection: What specific habit, program, or attachment tied to the "Moses" era in your life are you willing to stop this week so you can step fully into what God is calling you to? Name one concrete action to begin on Monday and who will hold you accountable.

Day 2: Scattering births evangelism and spiritual breakthrough

Persecution and displacement caused believers to scatter and preach the gospel, and in the absence of established structures the gifts and callings of ordinary servants were revealed; when the church embraces scattering—going into neighborhoods and cities—unseen leaders emerge and signs, wonders, and conversions follow.[12:41]

Acts 8:1-8 (ESV)

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

Reflection: Who is one unreached person in your immediate area (neighbor, coworker, family member) you have not invited because you stayed "at the center"? This week, intentionally start a gospel conversation with that one person and set a day this week to follow up or invite them to hear the good news.

Day 3: Write and clarify vision; wait God's timing

Vision must be seen and put into clear, written pictures so runners can run with it; the church must make the vision plain, read it often, and align its pace to the appointed timing of God rather than each person running on a different schedule or for personal preference.[19:36]

Habakkuk 2:1-4 (ESV)

I will take my stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith."

Reflection: Write one clear, one-sentence summary of how you see yourself contributing to the church's vision; post it where you will see it every day and tell one other committed believer what it is by Sunday so you begin running together.

Day 4: Start at home then scatter as witnesses

Kingdom mission begins in the local "Jerusalem"—rooted community life and witness—then intentionally expands into Judea, Samaria, and beyond; the house must train and send leaders, establish small apostolic hubs or home-based ministries, and prioritize influence over size so the church remains relevant with God's movement.[11:35]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Reflection: Identify one neighborhood or small group you could help start as an apostolic hub: name the location, two people to invite, and set a date within the next 30 days for your first meeting to pray and share the vision.

Day 5: Endings necessary to enter promised new beginnings

Moses' death shows that God sometimes requires the ending of familiar systems and ways so a people can enter their promised future; letting beloved programs, comforts, or leadership styles die is painful but necessary for the church and individuals to move into the next-level season God is opening.[01:37]

Deuteronomy 34:1-8 (ESV)

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the LORD showed him the whole land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negeb, and the plain, that is, the valley of Jericho the city of palms, as far as Zoar. And the LORD said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, I will give it to your offspring." Then the LORD showed him the whole territory, and Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

Reflection: What is one "Moses" in your life (an old role, program, habit, or comfort) you must release for God to advance you? Pray about it, then write one concrete step you will take this week to begin letting it go.

Sermon Summary

I called us to recognize the end of an era and the birth of a new one. Like Israel standing at the Jordan, we heard God’s word to Joshua: Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise. This is not a disrespect of what God did before; it is an honoring of it by moving forward with Him. The new always asks us to release what we knew, to pick up courage, and to root our steps in the Book of the Law—meditating day and night until our actions align with what God has spoken. Courage is not adrenaline; it is obedience with a steady heart.

We also faced how new seasons rarely look like our expectations. God’s movement often requires us to leave good, familiar rhythms. I named the shift from a central midweek service to home cells as one example—because when God calls us to something new, He also calls something old to die. Acts 8 showed us that what felt like loss in Jerusalem became gain for Samaria. Persecution scattered the church, and hidden gifts surfaced—Philip the deacon emerged as an evangelist; cities long ruled by counterfeit power bowed to Christ.

To walk this faithfully, we need clarity of vision and shared ownership. Habakkuk teaches us to write the vision, make it plain, read it, and then run with it. We don’t run at our own speed; we run at the pace of the vision, which means running and waiting at the same time—moving with God’s timing, not our impatience. A house is powerful when its people become runners, not just writers; contributors, not mere consumers.

I warned us about the danger of becoming religious—guarding forms while the cloud has moved. God Himself buried Moses so Israel wouldn’t build a shrine to an old era and miss the promised one. We are entering an apostolic age of many hands carrying the ark. Not bigger crowds, but broader influence. Not only a strong Jerusalem, but scattered hubs—two or three gathered in Christ’s name, preaching, praying, discipling, transforming. The next level demands next-level thinking, serving, and holiness. God is calling us to arise, to part with the old, to move with the cloud, and to give ourselves fully so this house becomes a next-level church that truly touches our city and beyond.

Key Takeaways

1. Endings are God’s invitations forward. Embracing the end of a familiar season is often the doorway to promised inheritance. God honors the past by calling us beyond it, not by letting us idolize it. If we refuse to let something good die, we risk missing what is better. [03:55]
2. Courage grows from meditated obedience. God repeats “be strong and courageous,” then roots it in careful attention to His word. Courage that lasts is shaped by Scripture we chew on day and night until it directs our next step. Success is not speed; it is alignment with what is written. [06:51]
3. Scattering unveils hidden callings. When the church in Jerusalem was scattered, Philip’s gift emerged and a city was changed. Proximity to comfort can hide potential; obedience in motion often reveals it. Influence grows when the mission decentralizes and the gospel lands on new streets. [59:41]
4. Shared vision turns members into runners. A written, clear vision invites ownership—people see themselves in it and take responsibility. Running at the vision’s pace means movement without frenzy and waiting without apathy. Misalignment scatters energy; shared sight multiplies impact. [22:03]
5. Follow the cloud, not the camp. God’s presence dictates movement; staying where He was makes us irrelevant where He is. Structures serve the journey; they must not replace the Guide. Keep your eyes on the cloud, even when the campsite still feels comfortable. [39:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:37] - Joshua arises: end of an era
[03:55] - “Moses is dead”: call to rise
[06:51] - Strength, courage, and the Book
[08:44] - Leaving the familiar for the new
[11:01] - Acts 8: persecution and scattering
[13:34] - Simon’s city and the church’s absence
[17:09] - Habakkuk: write, make plain, run
[22:03] - Reading the vision, running together
[31:33] - Pillars: Word, prayer, fellowship, service
[34:15] - Becoming like the house you’re in
[37:48] - Following the cloud, not structures
[45:15] - When Moses dies: resisting religion
[50:11] - Many hands carry the ark
[54:17] - Apostolic hubs: influence over size
[59:01] - The next level: consecration and commitment
[63:02] - Prayer and response: embracing the new

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Joshua 1:1–9 — After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the great sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous. For you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Observation Questions

Read Joshua 1:1–9. What three specific commands or promises from God stand out most to you in this passage, and why do they matter for a leader? (look for commands, promises, and the link between them)
The sermon emphasized the line “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise.” How does that phrase function as both an ending and a commissioning in the passage? [03:55]
Verse 8 links meditation on the Book of the Law to “good success.” What actions or habits does the passage actually connect to success? Which of those habits do you currently practice? (be specific)
The preacher said courage is “obedience with a steady heart.” What parts of Joshua 1 give a concrete picture of steady, obedient courage rather than sudden bravado? [06:51]

Interpretation Questions

What does God’s warning “do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left” suggest about how the community should weigh new opportunities against fidelity to God’s revealed word?
The sermon warned against becoming religiously stuck when “the cloud has moved.” How would a local church or leader practically recognize that they are clinging to old structures instead of following God’s movement? [39:14]
Acts 8 was used to show that scattering can reveal gifts like Philip’s evangelism. In what ways might decentralizing ministry (home hubs, small cells) change who leads and how gifts are discovered or tested? [12:41]
The preacher quoted Habakkuk: “write the vision, make it plain, run.” How should that command shape the way leaders write and communicate vision so that ordinary members can become “runners”? [17:09]

Application Questions

Is there a spiritual pattern, program, or ministry you’re personally clinging to that God may be calling you to release so He can lead you into something new? Name one thing and one concrete next step to let it go. [03:55]
Joshua 1 ties success to meditating on God’s Word day and night. What exact, small habit will you adopt this week to obey that command (for example: 10 minutes of Scripture each morning, memorizing one verse, listening to a chapter on commute)? When will you do it?
The church is moving toward home cells/apostolic hubs. Which of these concrete roles could you realistically do in the next month: host a home gathering, lead one short study, invite two people to a hub meeting, or help with hospitality? Choose one and set a date. [08:44]
Identify one fear that has kept you from stepping into a new ministry or responsibility (evangelism, mentoring, serving). What is one specific action you will take in the next 7 days to move in obedience despite that fear? [06:51]
Do you know the church vision well enough to explain where you fit? If not, what will you do this week to “read the vision” and ask leadership one clarifying question? If yes, name one way you will move from consumer to contributor in that vision over the next month. [22:03]
The sermon taught that scattering can uncover hidden callings (Philip example). Name one person, neighbor, or street you will begin to pray for this week and one practical outreach you will attempt in the next two weeks (coffee, invite, prayer walk, short gospel conversation). [12:41]

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