Joshua

-this morning for some of you, and in a few weeks for the rest of you, you got to hear me tell one of my favorite Bible stories.

-tonight, we’re going to look at someone in the Bible, one of my favorites, to see how God can use you for greatness

-Joshua was the guy who took over when Moses died.

-so when they get into the Promised Land, which is now where Israel is, Joshua is the one in charge.

-basically, he gets to be the one to lead all the cool battles and drive out all the giants that lived in the land. Definitely fun.

-but there’s a reason God used him. There were certain things he had to do.

1. MEDITATE ON THE WORD

-one of his instructions from God.

**Josh. 1:8 -> 8Always remember what is written in the Book of the Teachings. Study it day and night to be sure to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything. (NCV)

-think about that. Read your Bible day and night (over half the people in America have a problem with once a week). It’s not a request. It’s not a good idea. He is told to do it.

-remember Joshua is now Moses. All those 613 laws in the Old Testament, Joshua is now the one in charge of knowing them and taking care of disputes and arguments over them. He has to know them backwards, forwards and sideways.

-just because you don’t have people coming over to you arguing about what happens if you eat a goat on Sunday doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be reading the Bible either. Notice the promise he’s given. You will be wise and successful in everything, all if you read the Bible and hold onto it.

-this is your holy book. If you ask a Muslim what’s in the Koran and where it is, generally they know. You say you believe it, but do you know what’s in here?

-but there’s more. What good is it just to read the Bible? You have to do what’s in it!

**Deut. 11:27 -> 27You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. (NLT)

**Luke 11:28 -> 28Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.” (NLT)

**Ps. 119:4-12 -> 4You have charged us to keep Your commandments carefully. 5Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect Your principles! 6Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with Your commands. 7When I learn Your righteous laws, I will thank You by living as I should! 8I will obey Your principles. Please don’t give up on me! 9How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your word and following its rules. 10I have tried my best to find you - don’t let me wander from Your commands. 11I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. 12Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me Your principles. (NLT) (that must have been a fun song to sing)

-you gotta do what’s in it, and to know what to do, you have to read it.

2. TALKED WITH GOD

-Joshua talked with God all the time. Tons of prayer.

-the very first verse in the book.

**Josh. 1:1 -> 1After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses aide: (NIV)

-Joshua wastes no time. Throughout the book, God talks to him all the time. Before a battle, after a battle, during a battle, about a family. I’m not going to pull out every single prayer that Josh has with God, it would take a while,

-but that comes in with the next point, and one we’ve hit on before.

3. JOSHUA DID WHAT HE WAS TOLD

-sometimes we have to trust and obey. Both parts. Have to do it.

-in chapter 3, to cross the Jordan, God tells Joshua to take the Ark of the Covenant (the God Box) and have the four people carrying it just walk out into the middle of the Jordan River. The ground will dry up and you can walk across.

-he tells them to and it works! He did what God asked. God even told him to get 12 people, one from each tribe to grab a rock from the middle so they can make a remembrance on the side of the river, so people don’t forget.

-just one example.

-what about Jericho, God tells him not to attack, just walk in a circle and when I tell you, yell. And they win!

-God tells him to attack Gilgal after walking all night, so instead of resting Joshua does it. How do they win, God sends huge hailstone from the sky and makes the sun and moon stand still so it’s day an extra 24 hours, giving them the chance to see their enemies (and probably stay awake).