Strong and Courageous
Joshua chapter 1:1-1:9
Introduction- Some parts of this sermon were gleamed from sermons on SermonCentral.
This morning we begin Advent
We have devotionals for you to help prepare you for Christmas season.
Next week we will begin Advent readings and the singing of Christmas songs.
I pray that this week you took me up on my challenge and you blessed someone you don’t normally bless with an act of kindness. This week kind of an unusual passage to begin Advent, but we can learn from Joshua and I hope (which is the first week of Advent) that it will be words of encouragement to you.
Years back there was a TV series called “Early Edition.”
The storyline was that this person was able to read tomorrows news today. He was able to know what was going to happen one day before it happened.
If you could do that, would you be willing to devote your life to helping people?
You would be able to save people lives, save heartaches, rescue people from numerous things.
How would you use that knowledge? Would you help or would you just use it for your benefit?
Buy stocks at a low price and sell high?
Some are obsessed with the future and trying to learn it- but they go about it the wrong way.
They choose crystal balls, Ouija boards, tarot cards, Psychic hotlines.
Solomon talks about it in Ecclesiastes 8:7 “Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?”
God can! He is the only one!
He gives us a glimpse of the future in His word and tries to direct our lives using that information.
We have concerns, He has answers.
We may not know all the future, but we know who holds the future.
Life upon this earth is uncertain, and at times unpleasant and we don’t know what will happen.
The farther we move away from God, the farther away is your solution. (Repeat)
The Book of Joshua chapter one is the transition of Moses the great to Joshua the apprentice. Moses is dead and Israel was getting a new leader to lead them into the Promise land of God.
It is a great example of what God wants to do in our lives when unexpected things happen and we are thrust into something bigger than we are.
Great Advent start because just like Jesus coming as a baby into the world to be savior, redeemer, it shows us that God will provide everything we need if we will not only let Him, but accept it from Him.
Joshua chapter 1:1-1:9
Joshua is installed as the new leader of Israel. Hang in there!
I know that not everyone is a leader, but God has direction for each of us this morning.
There are things as God’s people that we should and should not be doing. He gives us some don’ts here.
(Write these down)
1. Don’t Presume about tomorrow
Proverbs 27:1-
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day may bring.” We do not know what tomorrow holds, it is why we must be ready and open to the things of God. Any day could be our last. Everyday involves risk and every day we should be grateful for the things that God gives us.
2. Don’t Panic or Worry about Tomorrow
Matt. 6:34-
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” There are things you can change and you should and there are things out of your control, and all the worrying you do will not change anything. I am glad God gives us life in small proportions, one day at a time. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. We think God is not listening, but truth is most times He doesn’t tell us everything at one time because we cannot handle it.
One bite at a time.
“ life by the yard is hard, but by the inch is a cinch!”
3. Don’t procrastinate about tomorrow
Tomorrow…, When I get…. Later, most of the time we will say we will get to it at another time- it doesn’t happen.
Don’t presume
Don’t panic/worry
Don’t procrastinate.
Moses is dead! Joshua heard that from God! Israel is now turning to him to lead them to the promised land of God.
We hear from the older generations
These younger kids will not lead the church.
If they do not pick up the mantle, we are one generation from extinction. That is true, but here , let’s call it what it is- the older generation, the disobedient generation has died off and the new generation is thrust into leadership position to lead.
Joshua knew in the promise land that there were at least 7 different enemies that wanted to destroy them. They were bigger, better trained, fortified enemies. But they did not have God’s blessing and God’s promise that He would deliver them into their hands.
Joshua was to lead 2 million people into a new land and conquering the enemy was a big challenge- even for a great man like Joshua, even though he was mentored by Moses himself.
Without God it seemed impossible, with God it was an adventure.
Sometimes God wants to take us on an adventure
(V 3-5)
“I will give you every place where you set your feet, as I promised Moses, your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon and from the great river Euphrates- all the Hittite country, to the great sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (repeat)
Did you catch the promise- it was a declaration of victory.
You will get everywhere you put your feet.
No one will defeat you
I will be with you
I will never forsake you
This is how much I am giving you- the land of all your enemies, all that you worry about, I am giving you! This is yours!
Just like God was with Joshua, He is with us as we face challenges, tough situations, difficult people, temptations, and things that are out of our control.
Let me recap that for you.
He did not say check it out, see if you can do it, He said that He was guaranteeing this for you- go possess it. Don’t get sidetracked. If God thrust you into a situation, He will bring you through it!
When we ask God for direction, that is wisdom.
When we make plans without God- that is foolishness.
Most people think success comes from having power, knowing influenced people, having the drive to get ahead. But Joshua was told by God the opposite.
(1) Be strong and courageous because the task ahead is not easy, but I will be with you.
(2) Obey God’s word- meditate on it daily. Read it daily. Be in a right relationship with God and be in fellowship with people of like-minded faith.
Who defines success? Man with all his foolishness or God?
You may not see success by world standards, but you will be a success in God’s eyes- that is what matter! His opinion will last forever.
3 times in these passages, we are told to be strong and courageous. (V 6,7,and 9) Think He wanted to have you step out in faith?
God calls the Joshua’s, Moses, but he also call His people to accomplish the promises and what is intended for our lives.
For everyone of us that is thrust into a situation bigger than we are, there is a God that tells us to be strong and courageous, I will be with you and I will never leave you. Praise the Lord!
We are working on this next generation
They are not the future church, they are the church!
We are looking into the promise land and God is looking for people who dare to cross into the promised land.
If something happened to me today, this church has to move forward with the vision that God has given to us. A new pastor is not bringing the vision, it is already here, and he/she will help you keep moving forward.
Closing,
So many times messages are heard and filed away- it was good one but….. it was one for someone else so…., but today’s is for everyone.
Today there are promises to be possessed. Leaders are made, God’s people have a job to do, and God’s people have blessings that are waiting for them to possess.
God has given every believer an opportunity to possess the promises of God. Don’t look at your situation, that can change in a moments time and does not define who you are in Christ. Just like a circumstance can rock your world for a moment, a blessing from God can change your life forever!
The supernatural power of God can change your life forever! You can be in bondage one moment and God can take you to the promised land. It is right in front of you, what are you going to do with it?
Are you tired of running in circles?
Do you want to find purpose in your life?
Are you tired of being confused and defeated?
To find what God wants to give you, you have to leave the wilderness and go to the promise land.
There are principals most people miss because they let their circumstance define who they are .
There is power in Christ- “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life.”
There is His Presence- “Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you; I will not leave you or forsake you.”
The same God that brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt, is the same God that sent Jesus Christ to redeem and fulfill all His promises. He was with them and He is with us. Amen. He has not called us to live in fear but in faith. He has not called us to be defeated, but to be victorious.
“I can do all things thru Christ who gives me strength.”
