Read Joshua 1:1-9
V 2 Moses has died
God tells Joshua to Arise and Go
Understand at this time Joshua is not a young man anymore
He’s spent years being the assistant to Moses
Joshua was prepared by God in the small things before he became the leader of Israel
Faithfulness in the little things is the method God uses to develop great men and women
Transitional Statement: God told Joshua, Arise and Go
How many times do we sit and choose to stay when God has called us to go?
How fond do we become to the routines of life
How much affection do we have for the dead things and places where God is no longer present
God commands Joshua to Arise and Go
Today we’re going to look at how this command applies to us.
And yes it applies to us
This promise is not just for Joshua
Also Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:20 in Jesus all the promises of God are yes and amen
V 3 God commands and reassures Joshua
They’ve been promised this land
Go beyond what you think know
God tells Joshua
Everywhere the sole of your feet touch I have given it to you
Entrance into Canaan was entrusted to Joshua
He was the representative of the Israelites
It’s the same way Jesus is our representative, He goes before us and what we have in God we possess in Him.
The whole land was given to them
They could only possess what they claimed
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given unto you
Transitional Statement: What they took had to be fought for against a determined opposition.
God could have eliminated all of their enemies
Why didn’t HE?
He called Israel into a partnership with Himself to see His will done
Taking the land took effort, this challenge ahead was not for anyone content with Egypt.
Bottom Line: You cannot have a hope and expectation for the future if you willingly choose to live in the past!!!!!
V 5-6
No one will be able to stand against you
What would you do with that?
No one will be able to stand against you
Would impose your will
Do everything your way
Would you be a bulldozer
Joshua was a bridge builder for the Israelites
I will be with you
I’m not leaving or forsaking you
Transitional Statement: God is telling Joshua that he wil be successful as long as he stays faithful and in the presence of GOD
Be strong and of good courage
After the last battle is won
You’re responsible for dividing the inheritance of the land to the people
V 7
Only be strong and very courageous
God doesn’t need Joshua to be anything else
Only be strong
How much strength does it take to live by faith and not by sight?
How much strength does it take to trust God and His word when every other detail of life says it contrary?
Transitional Statement: This type of strength comes from submission
Well, Pastor Jeff that feels like a weakness
It is, when you admit that your capabilities have limitations
And you turn to the Lord His strength is perfected through your weakness 2 Cor 12:9
When you submit to the will of God you find strength
When trust in His promise, he grants you strength to see it come to fruition
Strong and very courageous
Very Courageous goes further than regular courage
The word very implies exceeding
It points to going beyond the threshold of your courage and stepping into a place of greatly and diligently believing in God
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,And with my song I will praise Him.
So you can do everything the law commands of you
What’s the application for us?
So we can do what Jesus Christ has commanded us to do
Love one another as he has loved us
Love God with all our heart, mind and soul
AND GO!!!! TEACH, PREACH AND REACH OTHERS FOR THE KINGDOM
Don’t turn from it
How easy it can be for us to pick and choose the parts of His word that benefit us
They fit our agenda
We need the parts of His word that refine us as well
Transitional Statement: If you do this you’ll prosper wherever you go
V 8 The book of the Law
Shall not depart from your mouth
Meditate in it day and night
Think about your daily conversations
No just in church
Everyone has a veil over their speech while their in church
Do you speak life?
Do you uplift and encourage?
Can you share truth in love?
Or are you a sledge hammer that breaks everything with your words?
Be careful friend the Lord tells us in Matt 12:36 every idle word you speak you’ll give an account of in the day of judgement.
If you do this day and night and you observe and do according to all that is written
You’ll make your way prosperous
And you’ll have good success
Transitional Statement: God tells Joshua if you do this, this is what the fruit of that labor will be.
If you sow this way
You’ll reap success
Your harvest will be prosperous and plentiful
Conclusion: V 9 Have I not commanded you?
God gives 4 commands
2 positive and 2 negative
Be Strong and Courageous
Don’t be Afraid and dismayed
Fear is not an option
Fear is not an option for the Christian
Anywhere you discover problems in a church if you investigate it you’ll find that the root of the situation is fear
12 Spies went into the promised land, 10 gave a false report
Why??? They were afraid
People scoff and grumble and complain about change, and when I say change I mean growth, fruit that is manifested by the Holy Spirit
They act the way they act because they’re afraid they’re going to lose something
When in fact they stand to gain something greater than what they think they’re gonna lose
How do you move beyond that???
The Lord told Joshua, I am with you wherever you go.
Its a realization that my strength is in the Lord
I don’t have to worry or be afraid because it’s His strength that wins the battle
It’s His glory that shines through the darkest of days
Joshua is preparing to lead the people beyond the Jordan River into Canaan.
Today let us have a spirit of expectancy, and be praying that the Lord grants us strength and courage to go beyond our own fears and boundaries.
Response
