God's Formula For Success

• And claim God’s promise he had to be strong and courageous.

• They couldn’t be like their fathers had done a generation ago

• They couldn’t grumble and complain and refuse to enter the land because of their fear.

• Listen to Moses recount the story of their failure in Deut. 1:26-32 (read).

Dt 1:26 “But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God and refused to go in. Dt 1:27 You murmured and complained in your tents and said, ‘The LORD must hate us, bringing us here from Egypt to be slaughtered by these Amorites. Dt 1:28 How can we go on? Our scouts have demoralized us with their report. They say that the people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are, and that the walls of their towns rise high into the sky! They have even seen giants there—the descendants of Anak!’

Dt 1:29 “But I said to you, ‘Don’t be afraid! Dt 1:30 The LORD your God is going before you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt.

The outcome of their fear and unbelief was…what?

• God became angry with them and took away His blessings for that generation

• These were the blessings that He had reserved especially for them.

• And now God doesn’t want Joshua and his generation to make the same mistake.

I think we need to apply this principle not only in our personal life,

• But also in our church life as well.

• It would be easy for us to look at our congregation with our human eyes and human understanding and say,

• “We’re just too small We’re to insignificant to have any influence on the Franklin.

• Let’s just do what little we can and be satisfied with that.”

• But statements like this are just weak excuses for a weak faith.

In God’s success formula

• The first thing we have to do is be strong and courageous,

• Because the Lord our God is with us wherever we go.

PRINCIPLE #2: OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COMMANDS (v. 7)

• God instructs Joshua: to “Be careful to obey ALL the law….”

• Life would be so much easier if we could pick and choose which of God’s principles and laws we could follow

• And those that are just too demanding and too harsh.

• Illustration of looking for fruit in the grocery store, Apples, Oranges, Bannanas

• Only now we’re shopping for “principles.”

• “Let’s see I’ll take some joy.

• Here’s some love, I always like that.

• Patience…hmmm, that sometimes upsets my stomach.

• Forgiveness? I’m not in the mood for that today.)

• The law that Joshua was given was very detailed,

• And God expected him to learn it, meditate on it, and apply it.

• We’re not under that same law today, but we do live by the same principles.

• Jesus said that there are two commands that are most important.

1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.