Moving Onward And Upward Series

INTRODUCTION

Moving Onward and Upward to a better condition or higher level.

After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, the people of Israel came finally to the plains of Moab on the east side of the Jordan River opposite Jericho. As we come to the Book of Joshua, a new generation stands on the banks of the Jordan wondering if they have the faith to crossover to the promise. The mantle of leadership passed to Joshua, son of Nun, leader of Israel’s military forces, and Moses’ assistant. The grief of Moses’s death passes, and the excitement starts to build: the Lord is about to fulfill his centuries-old promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a homeland in which to serve God without fear.

This is a decisive moment in the history of Israel. Previously, they missed the promise after coming close. But they’re on the verge of victory with only the Jordan River standing between them and the land “flowing with milk and honey.”

They’re also frightened about the future. Can you relate? Maybe you had a tough past year, you know you didn’t make the progress you wanted to. Maybe you’ve just been wandering in the wilderness, experiencing more failure than faithfulness. On the other side, you know there are opportunities. Loved ones; it’s time to move onward and upward.

Some of you here are with mixed feelings. For some of you, 2017 had been great, but some of you went through some challenging times. Life could have been tough in 2017 but God is promising onward and upward progress in 2018. God is saying, “My people are going to move onward and upward.”

Here in the book of Joshua, we find that before God gave them victory over Jordan and other cities beyond Jordan, they had to make some changes in their commitment to God. This is exactly what God is speaking to us.

1. CULTIVATE COURAGE -MOVING ONWARD AND UPWARD

You need fresh courage in the Lord to move onward and upward. Joshua is about 80 years old and is called to lead the people across Jordan and he is no doubt scared and insecure. Moses has always been “the man” and now he is dead. God wants Joshua to know that Moses wasn’t the key, God was. Three different times God speaks these same words to Joshua in Joshua 1 “Be strong and courageous.” When God sees our fears, He wants to fill us with courage. This is similar to the words spoken to Timothy in

2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power…

Isaiah 43:1-2

1“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

God commands Joshua to be courageous because those he is leading need him to have courage.

Joshua 1:16-18

Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do…..Only be strong and courageous!” Whatever you are worried about right now, God wants you to have the courage to confront the issue. Your friends and family need you to have courage. Cultivate courage.

2. DON’T MAKE OBEDIENCE OPTIONAL – MOVING ONWARD AND UPWARD

Another foundational principle before moving onward and upward is to take your obedience to God to the next level. Disobedience in a small thing is never a small matter.

Do you remember why Moses was not allowed to cross the Jordan and enter the land of promise? As a result of his angry outburst when he smacked the rock twice instead of speaking to it, he was barred from the promised land. God is just and He wants hearts of obedience from His people.

Joshua 1:7-8

7 Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous.

Do you find yourself making excuses for your sins? Determine in this New Year to obey God and his word.

Psalm 119:60

I will hasten and do not delay to obey your commands. If you’re disobeying, stop right now and confess it.

3. SOAK UP SCRIPTURE

Up until this point God spoke directly to His servants but now that things have been written down, they were called to read and heed His book.

Joshua 1:8