Remembering Your Ebenezer Text: Joshua 1: 1-11
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 this entire 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.” 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”
Introduction: A theme of many Holocaust memorials is “Never forget.” The goal is to use memory of the past to encourage attitudes and behavior in the present. The memories we have of God, and His actions in the past should motivate our current obedience and trust! Hear this word, “if you aren’t encouraged for the present and future with Christ Jesus being Lord maybe you need to count you’re blessings or build some small victories! Remember this, big victories don’t come unless there have been some small victories!
Victory comes through Joshua’s leadership through faith in God and obedience unto His word, rather than through military might or numerical superiority!
Hebrews 11:7 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
If your faith level is low it’s because you aren’t hearing and responding unto God’s word!
Remember, “Faith comes by hearing!”
Listen, the first word Joshua hears from God in the beginning of his leadership is that Moses my servant is dead! What a crushing blow!
Here are 9 words from God unto Joshua as well as unto us!
#1.Beginning in vs.1 God is saying, “The old is dead!”
Take the old garment off; let go of the old and receive the new! Jesus said, “Be a new wine skin!”
We need a new anointing; not the same anointing our forefathers had!
#2.Vs.2 God say’s, “Go over!” Jesus said, “Let down your nets for a great catch!”
We shouldn’t be content just getting by, or even going under or through. No, God’s call is for us to go over!
Romans 8:35-37 who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
#3.Vs.3 God say’s, every place you go; I’ll give it unto you! We have God’s very Spirit!
#4.Vs.5 God tells Joshua that no man shall be able to stand before you!
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
#5.Vs.6 God say’s, “Be strong and of good courage!”
Most Christians seem to have Alzheimer’s; they forget what God has done!
Remember that old Hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” It goes, “Here I raise mine Ebenezer…” An Ebenezer is a memorial stone, like the ones erected by God’s people in Joshua! We need to establish our own Ebenezer’s to remember the faithfulness of God!
#6.Vs.8 God say’s, “live through My word!”
Let it be your road map, your food, water and your first and only source!
#7.Vs. 8 You will prosper!
Proverbs 8:17-18 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.
#8.Vs.9 God is with you! Hebrews 13:5 …I will never leave you nor forsake you...
#9.Vs.11 In 3 days you will cross over! (We must have a crossover anointing!) In 3 days Christ rouse from the grave!
Everything that pertains to the saints of old pertains unto us because God’s no respecter of person’s!
Sources:
Today in the Word /Moody Bible Institute
