Possessing The Promise

POSSESSING THE PROMISE

Joshua 1.1-18

S: Vision, Leadership and Change

C: Purpose of the Community

Th: A People with Purpose

Pr: MOVE FORWARD IN GOD’S STRENGTH.

Type: Inductive

I. POSSESSION (1-4)

II. PRESENCE (5-9)

III. PREPARATION (10-18)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Be a people of purpose.

• It is time for the Randall community to MOVE FORWARD IN GOD’S STRENGTH.

• We are to possess God’s promises and fulfill His mission.

Version: ESV

RMBC 04 June 06 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Courage

A man dies and appears before St. Peter at the pearly gates. "Have you ever done anything of particular merit?" St. Peter asked.

"Well, I can think of one thing," the man offered. "Once, I came upon a gang of bikers, who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn’t listen. So, I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker and smacked him on the head, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring, and threw it on the ground. I yelled, ’Now, back off!! Or you’ll answer to me!’"

St. Peter was impressed, "When did this happen?"

"Just a couple minutes ago."

You know, there is such a thing as a fine line between courage and foolishness.

But…

1. There are times in our lives that we know we must muster the courage to move forward.

We are beginning a study of the book of Joshua today that will take us through the rest of the year.

It is a story of promise.

It is a narrative that expresses the great expectations God has for each one of us.

It is an account that calls on us to enter into the land God has prepared for us – to live by faith the adventure to which we have been called.

It is a lesson of spiritual victory!

And it is all done with courage and purpose.

2. Joshua was a man of courage.

Before we study the book with the title of his name, we find him acting as Moses’ right hand man.

First, we find that…

2.1 He was the commanding officer in the battle against the Amalekites (Exodus 17.8-16).

In Exodus 17, after escaping from Egypt, the Israelites have to face the Amalekites.

Already, Joshua is the general in charge.

Moses was on a hill giving overnight to the battle.

When Moses’ arms were up in the air, the Israelites were winning.

And when he could not hold them up, Joshua and his troops suffered loss.

Discovering this, Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms during the course of the battle.

The second time we meet Joshua…

2.2 He stood post and waited for Moses as he met God on the mountain (Exodus 24.13, 33.11).

Again in Exodus, Joshua went with Moses up on the mountainside, and then waited until he returned.

Forty days later, Moses comes back down and finds Joshua faithfully at his post.

When they both returned to the camp, they found the camp in rebellion, having made a golden calf to worship.

Together, Moses and Joshua repress the rebellion.

The third time we meet Joshua…

2.3 He, along with Caleb, had given the favorable report when spying out the land (Numbers 14.1-12).

In Numbers 14, we find the story that sets up the book of Joshua.

Moses sent twelve spies into the Promised Land to check out what they were facing.

But the majority report was in opposition to the good report given by Joshua and Caleb.

And though the nation was commanded to go in and take it for their possession, they refused to obey.

As a result, they wandered in the wilderness for another forty years until the doubting and disobedient generation had passed away.

The final time we meet Joshua is in Deuteronomy when…

2.4 He was Moses’ chosen successor (Deuteronomy 31.23).

Now…

3. In today’s study, we are introduced to Joshua as the new leader of Israel and his priorities.

OUR STUDY:

I. POSSESSION (1-4)

(1) After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, (2) “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. (3) Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. (4) From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.”

Well…

4. The time of transition had finally arrived.

Moses was done.

He had faithfully completed his assignment, and now was eternally with the Lord.