Walking and Standing on the Dream Text: Joshua 1: 1-8
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 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.
In the past few weeks we have talked about: Finishing Your Dream, Selfish Dreams, Living the Dream, The Dream will Happen, and in conclusion I want to talk to you about Walking and Standing on the Dream. Moses had received first hand information from God; He had experienced God’s glory at times for forty days and nights straight! Now Moses is dead and Joshua receives God’s authority to lead the Children of Israel into the promise land! (The same land first promised unto Abraham.)
Now God is calling Joshua! The name Joshua means, "YAHWEH is salvation!” Many people have the right name and the right words, but they aren’t willing to dream big! (It’s not coincidental that God chose Moses’ assistant because God knew his willingness and his attitude!
When Thomas Jefferson served as the ambassador of America to France, he had an extremely difficult and tricky task. His predecessor, Benjamin Franklin, who signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, was recognized as America’s ablest diplomat. Franklin was also a household name in France, for he had been inducted to the French Academy of Sciences for his scientific work. Even Thomas Jefferson himself called Benjamin Franklin “the greatest man and ornament of the age and country in which he lived.” So when Jefferson, America’s ambassador to France from 1784 to 1789, arrived in Paris as United States’ minister to France, he naturally had some very big shoes to fill and a ton of questions to answer. On one occasion, when Jefferson presented himself to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, the French Minster asked him directly, “You replace Monsieur Franklin?” The new diplomat wisely answered, “No, I succeed him. No one can replace him.
Vs. 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan…
Illustration: Display 3 different pair of shoes going in the right direction.
There’s a saying we need to remember, “ Without Him, we cannot; without us, He will not!”
For the avg. person walking is normal, (it’s like breathing, you don’t even think about it.) but for the child of God that’s willing to dream big, every step he or she makes can have within it the possibilities of a step of faith. (A God step.)
For Joshua to cross over Jordan it would mean stepping on the crest of the banks of the Jordan River! Normally, the Jordan River is usually 100 ft. wide, but in the spring it becomes one mile in width. Also, it became a raging threat to anything in its way!
Listen, one step of faith can change your life, and remove the rage!
There’s something about making a new step of faith! First, there’s a change in leadership. 2. There’s the death of a great leader. 3. Joshua went with Moses’ assignment. 4. God say’s, “Every place you will travel is yours. 5. Vs. 5 God say’s, Man can’t stop you. 6. God tells Joshua that leadership has changed, but My anointing hasn’t. 7. God say’s, don’t turn to the left or to the right, stay on track. 8. Vs. 8 God tells Joshua to stay with the plan and he will proper and have good success!
Question: In Mathew 14 in your eyes was the Apostle Peter a failure when he got out of the boat and walked on water, but then he begin to fear as he took his eyes off of Jesus and he sank? No, he will never forget it!
Every one of us here have, and will suffer set backs, but it doesn’t negate the fact that God has called us. He has anointed us, and He has appointed us! John 15:14-16 Jesus said, You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Listen to what God say’s about you! Isaiah 62:12And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; And you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
God tells Joshua to be strong and of good courage ‘four times’ in this one chapter!
In Joshua 1:8 God tells Joshua to ‘meditate’ the word, and in Hebrew that denotes an active recitation, a re-speaking of God’s word; thus it shall not depart from your mouth!
I believe that God is always looking for a new Joshua generation to go out and possess the land! To proclaim His word even when it’s not popular to do so!
Cross-over: I’ve ask one of the men to go and place a ribbon on the front where our new building will be built. I would love for every person who can young and old to come and cross over this ribbon!
