There is a common desire within every person to feel successful isn’t it? Nobody wants to fail whether it’s in life, their business/employment, or their church. And sadly, we often measure our worth on the basis of how successful we are.
By the world’s standard, success often means luxury, wealth, and possessions, achievements, notoriety, and fame, beauty, and brains. But when seeing one of these who have supposedly achieved that success, they are anything but happy!
As we will be reminded today, God’s standard of measurement is nothing like the world’s standard.
ILLUSTRATION:
Last week, I had two doctor’s appointments on the same day. But after going to the first one, I was too early for the next one and yet didn’t have time to go back to the office. So I went into one store just killing some time.
Walking through the Book Section, these were the titles I observed. 1. We become what we think about. 2. Decide exactly what you want. 3. Determine the price you have to pay. 4. Commit to pay the price. 5. Work hard, one day at a time. 6. Never give up.
There was another book on success nearby that had 3 formulas for success, similar to the first one.
(What was really interesting is where I found the books: on the clearance table.)
God’s formula for success is completely unlike the world’s formula. And His formula works for every person, in every situation, whether it’s at school, in one’s business, our families, or our church. The pathway to success cannot be traveled by anyone who does not practice God’s formula for success.
These principles are taken from Joshua 1:6-9. There are more than 3, but I want to focus on 3.
I. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS – A TASK IS AT HAND!
READ VERSE 6
A. Real Strength and Real Courage Like… (that of…)
David -- walked into the Valley of Elah -- sling and few rocks stand against Goliath
Moses -- stands eye to eye with Pharaoh.
Elijah -- when he challenges the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.
‘if the Lord is God – follow Him’ ‘if Ba-el if God – follow Him’
(I could really update this struggle of idolatry couldn’t I?)
Joshua needs that same strength to lead God’s people.
1. Joshua remembered the struggles of Moses who had the same command
- READ DEUT. 1.26-32
Now he is told in vs. 6) ‘you will lead these people…’
2. QUOTE: Anonymous
A writer said “Courage can only be seen in the midst of ‘conflict and struggle’ when it would be easier to throw up your hands and just quit.”
APPLICATION; Just like Joshua and the Nation is Israel…
1. God is calling today saying “Be Strong and Courageous” to do the task at hand.
a) In Acts 1.8, “…you will be my witness”.
b) 1 Cor. 12, Rom. 12, Eph, 4, - learned how to prepare to be that witness
2. Today, when it’s easier to Quit, or Sit, or Become Status-Quo, God is saying…
a) Be strong and courageous (an ongoing command)
b) You may think you are too small to make a difference,
c) You may think you are insignificant
d) But I’ve called you for lead in this task making a difference in Newnan!
Be Strong and Be Courageous!
II. BE STRONG & COURAGEOUS – BE OBEDIENT TO MY COMMANDS
READ VERSES 7-8
3 Parts to this charge!
1. ‘obey all the law’
a. The Law: The 5 books of Moses
b. Not part (… the part we like) but ALL OF IT! God’s power through His Word.
c. God was reminding Joshua that a greater strength of character would be required for the task at hand!
2. ‘do not turn from it to the right or to the left’
a. Grounded/focused -- not subject to worldly influence.
b. Understanding the difference between ‘mans fence’ and ‘Gods fence’
- Man’s fence allows one to be influenced to suit the situation
- God’s fence gives one the courage & strength to make a stand! (grounded and thus not easily swayed from one side to the other!
3. ‘meditate on it day and night’
a. Don’t skim it –read it!
b. Don’t just read it, pray on it – ponder it – ask God’s enlightenment on it
APPLICATION: What is it God is saying to you through this passage?
- Like Moses taught Joshua – Paul taught Timothy
READ 2 Timothy 3.15-17 (focusing on vs. 16)
- God’s Word -- The #1 best seller is still the #1 best seller because it’s the ‘LIVING, BREATHING, INSPIRED WORK OF GOD”
- But it’s NOT AUTOMATIC – God’s Wisdom is available to all but NOT AUTOMATIC.
1. Read, memorize and learn to obey all of it
2. Become grounded according to His Precepts
3. Mediate on it day and night so that it becomes a part of you
ILLUSTRATION: BUYING COMPUTER WITHOUT OPERATING SYSTEM
-Debbie’s laptop broke several months ago causing some frustration.
-We couldn’t afford right now to put it in the shop - decided to attempt repair.
-Found a hard drive for really a great price; purchased & installed into the drive bay.
Suppose I failed to follow the instructions to make it useable?
-to format or install operating system
-to install windows or other necessary software programs
-It would’ve been useless!
APPLICATION: Mistakes are made because we don’t read, study, and meditate on our Set of Instructions: God’s Word.
- Notice the RETURN Vs. 8b “you will be prosperous and successful”
III. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS – I WILL BE WITH YOU
Not only did God encourage Joshua to
1- Be Strong and Courageous because of the Task God Had Called Him to Do
2- Be Strong and Courageous by learning to obey all of the Word
Finally, God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous because He had ONE SPECIAL NUGGET in his bag …
READ VERSE 9
I. Small in comparison to the enemy
II. By human standards, they were very much outnumbered
III. 7 nations living within Canaan, each of them larger than Israel
Even though, by all human understanding, the task we’ve been called to accomplish seems overwhelming, God says “relax, you have an ace in your pocket, …
‘you have a great and awesome God’!”
COMPARE DEUT. 7.17-19, 21
READ AGAIN VERSE 21
21 Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.
I say to you “CHURCH, God says to us be strong…
Be strong & courageous, I have a task for you…
Be strong & courageous, be Obedient following my Word & Way
Be strong & courageous, remember that I AM WITH YOU
Then you will be “prosperous and successful” as I would have you be!
SUMMARY
God’s Formula for Success works, but there are no shortcuts.
-It calls us to be strong and courageous – we have a task at hand – a calling!
-It calls us to be strong & courageous – be obedient to His commands.
-It calls us to be strong & obedient – we are not alone!
ILLUSTRATION:
In a sermon, Juan Carlos Ortiz spoke of a conversation with a circus trapeze artist. The performer admitted the net underneath was there to keep them from breaking their necks, but added,"
“The net also keeps us from falling. Imagine if there was no net. We would be so nervous that we would be more likely to miss and fall. If there wasn’t a net, we would not dare to do some of the things we do. But because there is a net, we dare to make turns, and once I made three turns -- thanks to the net!"
Ortiz makes this observation:
"We have security in God. When we are sure - in his arms we dare to attempt big things for God. We dare to be holy. We dare to be obedient. We dare, because we know the eternal arms of God will hold us if we fall."
CLOSE:
- Is there something missing in your life?
- A struggle or an enormous battle & you feel like all the odds seem to be against you!
- Make sure you are striving for happiness and success based on the right set of standards!
- Be Strong & Courageous
- Follow God’s Commands
- Nestle in His Presence
