Text: Joshua 1:1-9
(1) Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, (2) Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
(3) Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. (4) From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
(5) There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (6) Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
(7) Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
(8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
(9) Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
REVIEW:
We began a series of messages declaring that what the world needed was LOVE, God’s LOVE!
There’s no greater need! There’s no great call! There’s no greater act of Courage!
Christ’s greatest commandment is “Love God with all our heart, soul and mind.”
Christ’s second greatest challenge was to “Love our neighbor as our self.”
How does the text we have read today in the Old Testament relate to the teaching of the New Testament?
How do the words to Joshua relate to the words of Jesus?
Loving God is about obeying God! Right?
Obedience to God will open the door for us to receive all the wonderful things he has in store for us…
Deu 10:12-13 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, (13) To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
“If you love me, you will obey my commandments.”
Luk_12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
God had promised to give the children of Israel the land of promise, all they had to do was to go in and claim it.
They failed because they feared. They doubted. They were disobedient.
Let’s consider our text more closely…
THE SETTING: Joshua 1:1-3
(1) Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, (2) Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Contents: Joshua’s commission and command.
Consideration: Those who make the Word of God their rule and conscientiously walk by that rule will both do well and make great progress. We will be animated and emboldened for God’s work as we keep our eyes upon the divine warrant.
Striking Facts: Joshua, type of Christ as Captain of our Salvation. Heb_2:10, Heb_2:11. He comes after Moses, Joh_1:17. Leads to victory, Rom_8:37. Our Advocate when we have met defeat, 1Jn_2:1. Allots our portions, Eph_1:11, Eph_1:14.
In light of our text and in seeking to see how it applies to us today, notice…
I. THE PLAN OF GOD Joshua 1:3-6
(3) Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. (4) From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
(5) There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (6) Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
God has a specific ministry for each of His children. He has a purpose, a plan and a program!
God’s Plan for Joshua
1. Joshua was a prince of the tribe of Ephraim, and was born in Egypt, he grew up being a slave and a child of a slave.
2. After the Exodus, he became captain of the host, Exo_17:9.
3. With Caleb, he brought back a good report of the land of Canaan, Num_14:7.
4. He was found faithful in a small ministry or capacity and then promoted to a larger one. One of the last things Moses did before his death was to bestow upon Joshua the position of the Leader.
Joshua in many ways reflects Jesus as seen in His risen glory, as the Captain and Leader of the Church.
The land of Canaan was Israel’s by deed of gift; but Israel had to go up to possess it.
NOTE: God’s plan was…
God had great plans for His people.
He had wonderful things in store for His people. All He wanted of them was obedience.
As long as they loved God, then they would keep Him first. They would obey.
When they began to focus on themselves was when they had difficulties!
God’s Plan for Us
Eph 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
God has a Predestined Inheritance of a Chosen People (Eph. 1:3)
500 years before Joshua led Israel over Jordan River God had told Abraham -
"Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and thy seed for ever." (Gen. 13:14-15)
Later, when Moses led the nation out of Egypt God said, "The Lord shall bringthee into the land……which He sware unto they fathers to give thee." (Exod. 13:)
Just as God predestined Israel’s inheritance, so God has predestined the inheritance of the Church - In Christ.
Just as Israel was blessed with all material blessing in earthly places in Abraham, so the Church is blessed with all spiritual blessing in Christ.
Just as Israel had to be IN the LAND in order to enjoy these blessings - so too must the Church be IN the HEAVENLIES to enjoy spiritual blessings.
NOTE: The reason why so many Christians do not ENJOY their salvation is because they are not in the place where God bestows them.
God’s grace is ours, but we must claim it by putting the foot of our faith on God’s promises.
1Co_2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
What is God’s plan for your life?
II. THE PREREQUISITES OF GOD: Joshua 1:7-8
Define: Prerequisites: a thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to happen or exist.
(7) Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
(8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Prerequisites?
1. Be strong and courageous
2. Observe all God’s commands
3. Keep God’s word in your heart, on your lips
4. Observe and do
Illustration: We want the gain, but not the pain…
People in weight loss programs quit in large numbers because they want to take a pill to change them into a fit person, they do not want the pain of discipline.
People who want financial security usually don’t obtain it, because they are trusting in lotteries, inheritances, etc., instead of the working and saving involved in the security.
Christians want to be godly and the blessings that godliness brings, but they don’t want to discipline themselves to dying daily and taking up their cross.
God’s promise comes with prerequisites…
THE PROMISE OF GOD: Joshua 1:9
(9) Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
1. HE GIVES US HIS PRESENCE:
When God calls us to do something for Him, he never leaves us alone. He has promised to “never leave us or forsake us.”
“… for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
In the Great Commission, Jesus told the Disciples, “Lo, I will be with you always, even to the end of the world.”
God assure Joshua: “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
God’s presence is one of His many benefits to those who Love Him…
He is there in those times of solitude
He is there as you live in society
He is there as you are growing in sanctification
He is there in the days of confusion
He is there in the pressure of trials
He is there in the valley of decision
He is there in the shadow of death
He is there in your loneliness
He is there in your broken heartedness
Song: Written in the 1800s, “Does Jesus Care?”
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?
Refrain
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Frank E. Graeff (1860-1919)
2. HE GIVES US HIS POWER:
Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Deu 31:6-8 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (7) And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. (8) And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
God’s power is our power! He will go before us. He will keep us!
NOTE: (5) There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Listen child of God…
No foe can stand against us
No weapon can demolish us
No battle can defeat us
No temptation can undo us
No satanic campaign can destroy us
No evil force can overcome us
No warrior can win over us
No one can throw us under the bus
No one can take our blessing from us
No pain can cause us to give up
No one can rob us of our riches in Christ!
Why? Why? Because He is with us. That’s why!
Deuteronomy 7:9 - Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he [is] God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
2 Timothy 2:13 - If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 - But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep [you] from evil.
1 Corinthians 1:9 - God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalms 33:4 - For the word of the LORD [is] right; and all his works [are done] in truth.
Psalms 86:15 - But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Psalms 23:1-6 - The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Lamentations 3:23 -… great [is] thy faithfulness.
Numbers 23:19 - God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Go out there and claim all that God has for you!
Illustration: Caleb
1. Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent to spy out the new land of promise God had given to the Israelites.
2. Caleb took seriously the challenge where God said every place the foot touches shall be yours.
3. Caleb didn’t settle for the first thing he saw, he set his sight high. In fact, the land which he claimed was the very place inhabited by the Giants!
He wasn’t worried! He wasn’t afraid. He didn’t care about giants!
He heard God’s promise and he believed it. He was ready to send the giants evacuation notices.
He was disappointed. Yes!
Then came the news that because ten spies had brought up a bad report, her would not get to claim his mountain. He was disappointed. But he did not stop serving God. He did not stop praying about his mountain. He didn’t stop planning on living there. He spent 40 years dreaming of, planning for his mountain!
He didn’t give up!
Then the day came when Moses died and Joshua said, “Everybody get ready, we are going to take control of the land God promised.
Caleb, now 85 years old cried out, “I want my mountain! The mountain that the Lord gave to me 40 years ago!
Caleb was a spiritual man for he gave all there was of him to the Lord. The Bible says, "He wholly follower the Lord."
Do you Love the LORD? Do you wholly follow Him as did Caleb?
"He wholly followed the Lord" Seven times the Bible tells us that Caleb either "wholly" or "fully" followed the Lord.
Caleb said, “The brothers who went up with me to spy out the land have brought an evil report, but I have wholly followed the lord!
Caleb got what he hoped for! Caleb got what God promised!
Moses promised Caleb, 'Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.'
Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.
To wholly follow the Lord means that there is nothing between you and God.
God wants to give you all the blessings He has for you… but you must “Love Him with all your heart, your soul and mind.”
ILLUSTRATION
D.L. Moody was a shoe clerk and then became a Sunday school teacher and then he became a powerful preacher that shook the world for the Lord Jesus Christ. By 1870 Dwight L. Moody and his song leader Ira Sankey spent at least half of their time holding evangelistic crusades
He once heard Henry Varney says, "The world has yet to see what God could do in and through and for a man totally and wholly committed to Him ...
Be like Caleb of old, set you sights on a mountain. Claim that mountain for Christ!
Don’t let the journey derail you
Don’t let the battle detour you
Don’t let the naysayers distract you
Don’t let no Giants dishearten you!
Claim your territory. Claim that mountain!
Take hold of that Promise of God and in the Power of God in the presence of God, you will find your way prosperous and of good success!
One pastor says it like this…
Caleb was at the age, when others probably thought that he should just be content with a small plot of land and settle into retirement.
Perhaps they thought he should just plant a garden or take up a hobby.
But instead, he said to Joshua, "Give Me This Mountain."
CONCLUSION:
What is your mountain? What spiritual blessing is waiting for you?
What promise of God do you need to claim?
Do you love God? Then obey Him! Believe Him!
Do you have friends and loved ones that do not serve the Lord?
Maybe that is your mountain! Has God placed a burden on your heart for the community; perhaps that is your mountain.
When God shows you your inheritance or your mountain, do not look at the size of the mountain or the obstacles or giants in the way, but instead look at the power and might of your God.
Disclaimer: This sermon is a collection of several sources and I claim no originality to all, only as I have tried to tailor it to develop the sermon. I have sought to acknowledge credit to whom credit is due. I hope it will bless you.
