Today, We Are All Joshua!
Josh. 1:1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
This message that came from God directly to Joshua was a message of hope. At a time when the people of Israel were distraught, when they could have lost hope, lost their dreams, lost direction, God gave them this message.
Today, we are all Joshua. This message found in Joshua 1 is not aimed at me, it is not aimed at my brother, my sister or mom. This is a message that is aimed squarely at every single person in this room. Every single person who is part of this great church, every single person who is a part of this great university, every single person who has ever come through this ministry and has gone out as a young champion for Christ. Yes, this message is for all of us.
This message is a direct challenge to each and every one of us. For today, we are all called by God to cross over this Jordan. And God has promised each and every one of us that He will give us victory.
What is that victory?
That victory is reaching this community for Christ, reaching this state for Christ, reaching the nation for Christ and reaching the world for Christ. This ministry was found nearly 51 years ago for the purpose of world evangelization. Saturation Evangelism. That purpose is still alive and well. That purpose is now in our hands.
God looked at Joshua and said Moses, my servant is dead. Now you, Joshua, rise up and go across the Jordan to the land that I have promised you. Today, God is saying the very same thing to us. He is looking at everyone of us and speaking those words.
It is now our responsibility. It is our challenge. It is now our vision. And, it must also be our passion.
God went on to give Joshua more important words that would guide his steps in the days to come. He said this…Joshua 1:7, be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Our success in continuing this vision of reaching the world for Christ is forever tied to our commitment to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is not a relationship of convenience, not a relationship that is casual, not a relationship that is occasional. This must be a relationship that is continual and committed.
Casual Christianity has never changed the world
Convenient Christianity has never changed the world…
Comfortable Christianity has never changed the world.
Only Committed Christians do.
We must observe and obey God’s law. We must obey his commands in our life. We must not turn, we must not waiver. We must stand firm, stand committed to His word and to His work.
We must all live our lives firmly committed to personal holiness. Doing everything we possibly can to reflect Christ in our lives. We must ensure that people can look at us and see something that is different than the world has to offer.
We must be committed to God’s book, the Bible. We must plant ourselves firmly in His word. To study this book, to learn this book, to etch this book into our minds and our hearts. Why? Because God promises us that if we meditate on His word, it will keep us from going in the wrong direction.
One of my dad’s heroes, Dr. G.B. Vick said, "to meditate on God’s Word means that you focus on it so much that God’s thoughts become your thoughts…God’s principles become your principles…and God’s will becomes your will"
We must be committed to God’s service. We are called, just as Joshua was thousands of years ago, to cross that Jordan to the land that He has promised. We are called to reach out to this lost and dying world with the Gospel, to preach it unashamedly, to preach it unswervingly, to preach it continually.
Why are these things so very important? Because by following these principles, we will find success. What kind of success? We will see lives changed and souls saved.
Last Tuesday morning, each of us received a message from God just as Joshua received. Each of us are now entrusted with carrying out God’s plan. Each of us are entrusted with the vision that began 51 years ago.
This past week, many tears have been shed. We have all felt the sorrow and pain that comes from a loss that none of us were prepared for.
But God has promised us His peace. God has promised us His help. God has promised us His comfort. God has promised us His victory. And God has promised us that He will be with us every step of the way.
Johsua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Today, I am clinging to this verse like none I’ve ever read before. I need this verse and you do as well. Because today, we are all Joshuas.
Several years ago, as we were making plans for this building. My dad told us that he wanted this church to have these stairways that led from the balcony directly to the altar. He told us that he wanted this altar to stretch all the way across this room. He told us that he wanted this altar be to be as large as we could possibly make it. Why? Because he said these words, “We need this big altar so at times, we can fill it with people on their knees calling out to God.”
There has never been a better time than today for us to fill this altar. There has never been a better time than today for us to fall to our knees and call out to God for his direction in our lives. In a moment, as the Executive Pastor of this church, I want to call this church to prayer.
In a moment, Iwant to ask you, if you’re able, to stand where you are, and walk to this altar. To kneel here and pray for God’s direction for our church, to pray for God’s direction in all of our lives.
You see, today, all across this city and all across this land, there are people who are lost. People who need hope. People who need joy in their lives. And only Christ can bring that hope and that joy.
And we must give them Christ.
God loves people. God loves all people. He doesn’t care if we’re rich or poor. He doesn’t care if we’re good or bad. He doesn’t care if we had a shameful past. He doesn’t care what bad things we’ve done. All of us are precious to God.
He doesn’t care if we’re white or black, short or tall, fat or skinny, smart or not, God is no respecter of persons. God loves us all.
And now we must tell the world that God so loved the world, that he sent His son to die on the cross, to lay in the tomb, and three days later, to walk out of that tomb by His own power in order to give us the power to overcome Satan’s hold on our lives.
That is our job. That is our calling. That is what God told Joshua to do. And that is what God is telling us. To reach that world with the same Gospel that drove the heart of a 22 year old man 51 years ago.
And that is why we as a church need to pray. To pray that God will find each of us ready, willing and able to cross the Jordan and to reach the world.
Hebrews 11:4, in talking about the sacrifices of Abel says, "He being dead, yet speaks"
What do you think my dad would say at our pain and grief at this hour?
As a pastor, he would comfort us, he would wrap his arms around us as he did to thousands of people through these past 51 years and he would say it’s okay…God is in control.
But as a Visionary, he would echo the words of God in Joshua 1.
He would say..."I have finally reached Glory. I have walked those streets of Gold. I’ve heard the words, Well Done. And I have seen the face of God. My journey is done. Your journey must continue. Now, members of Thomas Road...get up. Keep going. You still have a BHAG to reach. You still have a world to reach with the Gospel of Christ. DON’T QUIT! DON’T EVER EVER QUIT”
Dad always said, Nothing of eternal importance is ever accomplished apart from prayer. Now, it’s time to pray.
As the music starts, let us stand where we are, walk to this altar, kneel before God, and pray!
