Start Your Life With Faith Series

START YOUR LIFE WITH FAITH

Joshua 1:1-9

INTRODUCTION

Many years ago, a man was hired an experienced guide to lead him on a hike into the Swiss Alps. After many hours, they came to a high and remote mountain pass. To the man’s dismayed, he saw the path had almost been washed out. What could he do? To the left was a sheer rock cliff; to his right, a precipice that dropped nearly 1000 ft. and looking down, the felt his head growing faint and his knees beginning to buckle. At that moment his guides shouted, "Do not look down or you are a dead man, keep your eyes on me, and where I put my feet, put yours there as well."

The man did as he was instructed and soon he passed from danger to safety.

This is a good advice for the beginning of a new year. No one knows what lies ahead for any of us. We all have plans and dreams but the times and seasons of life are in God’s hands. Sooner or later we will come in a dangerous pass where the way ahead seems to be washed out. At that moment we can panic and fall into terrible trouble, or we can fixed our eyes on the Lord Jesus and follow carefully his steps before us. If we will follow him, we will find out at the end of this year that we have been kept safe by His amazing grace.

In our text, Moses was already dead. Joshua knew how hard to become a leader of Israel. After all, he knew how Moses suffered on leading this same group of people.

But the Lord instructed him to become Moses successor and commanded him to arise and go over Jordan.

I. THE FEAR OF JOSHUA TO CROSS-OVER JORDAN

A. Their enemies are well-trained and well-prepared for the battle

(While the Israelites were only servants for many years)

B. Their enemies were descendants of Anak (Giant race - Num.13)

C. Their enemies were numerous and have established city.

II. THE FEAR OF JOSHUA TO TAKE-OVER THE LEADERSHIP

A. He wasn’t talented as Moses (Moses has been trained in Egypt)

B. He wasn’t closed to God as Moses (Moses has been called "A friend of God")

C. He was going to lead the most stubborn nation (He saw the experiences and hardship of Moses in leading this people)

D. He was going to lead the most coward army (Num. 13)

III. THE PROMISES AND ASSURANCE OF GOD TO JOSHUA

A. He was assured of complete victory

"There shall not any man be able to stand up before you all the days of your life" (v.5)

(See also Rom. 8:35; 1 John 5:4; 1 Cor. 15:57)

B. He was assured of His power

"As I am with Moses, so I will be with you" (v.5)

(See also Acts 1:8; Eph. 3:20; 2 Tim. 1:7)

C. He was assured of His presence

"I will not fail thee nor I forsake thee" (v.5)

(See also Matthew 28:20)

D. He was assured of His providence

"You will prosper whatever you goest" (v.7c)

(See also 2 Cor. 10:8; Phil. 4:19)

IV. THE DIRECTION AND CONDITION BY GOD TO JOSHUA

A. Be strong and courageous (vs. 6-7a) (2x)

"Faith involves courage"

B. Observe the law of the Lord

- Observe to do according to all what is written therein (8b)

[The Word of God must be his guiding principles]

-Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left hand (7c)

[The Word of God must be completely applied. He must have confidence on it!]

Joshua’s courage, hope, victory and wisdom for the success were dependent upon his constant attention to the written law.

CONCLUSION

In life there’s always a failure. But remember this quotations whenever you encounter failures:

-"Failing does not make you a failure. Failing does not make you a faithless. Quitting after you fail makes you a failure."

-"Only those who never give up will attain success!"

We really don’t know what will happen in the future but as Christians we know who holds the future.

Start you life with faith.

God bless!