Joshua's Conquering Faith (Part 2) Series

Topic: Sunday Sermon Series – Living by Faith

Title: Joshua’s Conquering Faith (Part 2)

Text: Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. – NIV

Proposition: The event referred to in Hebrews 11:30 points us to the principles by which we can have a conquering faith!

IV. The Footing for a Conquering Faith

A) Footing = basis or foundation upon which anything is established

1. The presence of God

a) But we can only be assured of this is we apply:

2. The precepts of God!

a) Precept is a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.

b) Precept – Gk ??t??? -en-to-la

i. an order, command, charge, a commandment!

Joshua 1: 7a “Be strong and very courageous.

a) Basis?

i. Strength?

ii. Courage?

Joshua 1: 7b Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

NLT-Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them,

NLT - Then you will be successful in everything you do.

ESV- you may have good success wherever you go.

Hampton Keathley III- The victory and possession of the land which follows is a direct result of the Word of God and of man, in this case Joshua, hearing and responding to His Word. This should illustrate for us that there is absolutely no victory or chance for us to experience the blessings of our new life in Christ apart from the Word of God. Whenever any believer begins to turn away from the Word through indifference or apathy for whatever reason, he is turning away from the Lord and into defeat.

And also….

3. Preaching or promoting the precepts of God!

Joshua 1:8a Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips;

a) The picture is that of vocalizing the Words of God!

i. In your pulpit

ii. In your counseling

iii. In the exercising of your leadership and ministry!

a. Paul reiterate this in the NT to Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:1 I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom: 2a Herald and preach the Word!

The Message -proclaim the Message with intensity!

JB Phillips- Preach the Word of God. Never lose your sense of urgency, in season or out of season.

2 Timothy 4:3b correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

2 Timothy 4: 3-5 You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant. – The Message

b. Also shall not depart from your mouth means that this book of the law should be the constant topic of your conversation.

c. Yes , its ok to talk about other things, but the wisdom of the Word should guide us!

d. God said Joshua even more than that:

Joshua 1:8b meditate on it day and night,

Meditate – ????? -hagah

1) To moan, growl, groan, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, devise, plot, imagine

Bruce Hurst - Meditation is the act of focusing one’s thoughts, of pondering, of reflecting, and of reviewing various thoughts by mulling them over in the mind and heart. The picture is one of "chewing" upon a thought, deliberately and thoroughly, providing a vital link between theory and action. Meditation consists of reflective thinking, rumination or contemplation, usually on a specific subject with the purpose of discerning its meaning or significance or a plan of action. What metabolism is to the physical body of the cow, meditation is to a saint's mental and spiritual life

Q: Do you ever mediate or muse over God’s precepts, in your mind?

A: You may thing that meditation is so hard, but If you know how to worry, then you know how to meditate. If your good at worrying you’ll be good at meditating!

Danger if you don’t mediate on the ways of God you just may find yourself walking in the wrongs counsel, path and way!

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

e.How do you avoid that?

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.