¡§Divine Marching Orders¡¨
Joshua 1:1-9
02.02.03
Sunday Morning Sermon
¡§We have nothing to fear when God is on our side.¡¨
Intro: Start with Blank
Young people can be mean to each other. I wasn¡¦t good at sports in Jr. High or High school. Our small school would get a new coach and all the losers, including myself would try to convince the new guy that we some how belonged on the team. It worked for awhile. I remember getting accepted on the baseball team. I was 3rd string right fielder. ¡V If the other two right fielders before me died, or had broken legs and the coach didn¡¦t want to put the extra pitcher in right field, he called on me. It was tragic going home with a white uniform, no dirt on the legs, and no sweat on the sleeves. It¡¦s hard to get dirt and sweat on your clothes from sitting on the bench. I was there, for every game. Our team was good enough to get to the state playoffs; we were last in the playoffs which means you have to play the first place team. We didn¡¦t have a chance in the world to win that game. We believed we could until coach told us that he was going to shake up the line up ¡V everyone would get to play. I remember this vividly. We were playing the state champs from the last year and they had a pitcher who could throw a mean fastball. I didn¡¦t like fastballs. Our pitchers weren¡¦t very good, the faster the ball the more out of control the ball would go. So instead of going over the plate it would hit your ankles, or your head.
Game day came and we got to the ball park. Coach gave us the roster for the day and kept his promise that everyone would play. Towards the end of the game he called my name. He wanted me to remember that if I catch a ball, I should watch the runner and throw it in. I went to outfield and didn¡¦t have a single ball hit my way. But I was up to bat. I swung with everything I had and hit a grounder. I got on base. My pulse was pounding, my heart was racing, my hands were sweating. All season, I had never gotten on base. Here I was! The first base coach told me if he makes contact with the ball RUN. I watched and contact was made so I ran! I ran HARD. I didn¡¦t stop at 2nd base like I should have; instead I kept going and made it to 3rd base. Our 3rd base was ironically right by the dugout. Again the rule was ¡V if contact is made ¡V RUN!!! So here I am on 3rd base scared to death, the winning run is on first. The batter swung at the first pitch ¡V all the while my mind is racing ¡§if he makes contact ¡V RUN!!¡¨ ¡§If he makes contact ¡V RUN!!¡¨ He made contact ¡V but I shouldn¡¦t have run. We didn¡¦t have any outs! He pops the ball up in the air ¡V an easy play for the catcher. Here I was ¡V running! I looked like a cross between Forest Gump and Mark McGuire. It wasn¡¦t a pretty site at all. All I heard was contact with the ball I didn¡¦t see the catcher throw off his helmet and look for the ball in the air. It was crazy for me to run. It wasn¡¦t the best thing to do.
The Bible tells the story of many great leaders. Our text this morning picks up at a new beginning. Moses had died. That doesn¡¦t mean much to us. It meant everything to the people who were following Moses. We pick up our text this morning and if you would turn with me to Joshua 1:1-9. Read. (Advance)
God makes some promises to the new young leader in a troubled time. The first promise and these aren¡¦t just for Joshua they are for us as well¡KGod tells Joshua. (Advance)
I. You will have victory (1-5) (Advance) „³ Blank
There are no victories at discount prices. General Dwight Eisenhower.
a. God¡¦s assurance ¡V I will be with you.
i. Victory over your enemies
ii. Victory even though you can¡¦t see it (Advance)
We have nothing to fear when God is on our side. (Advance) „³ Blank
iii. Joshua¡¦s Thoughts --
1. I¡¦m not qualified to lead these people
2. I¡¦m not good enough to lead these people
3. I¡¦m not brave enough to lead these people
iv. God¡¦s thoughts ¡V
1. You are right.
2. It¡¦s not my will without me
b. God¡¦s command
i. Get these people ready
1. Ready to cross the Jordan
2. Ready for battle
3. Ready for victory
That¡¦s great Jay. What does it have do to with the price of bread? Let me bring this home for you. We have nothing to fear when God is on our side.
c. God¡¦s promise for us
i. We will have victory ¡V
1. To overcome this world (Advance)
1 John 5:4 -- for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
2. To defeat our enemies (Advance)
Psalm 18:35 -- You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. (Advance) „³ Blank
3. To overcome our fear and our doubts
a. It is the doubt about forgiveness that holds me back.
b. It¡¦s the doubt about my salvation that keeps me from being everything I can be.
c. It¡¦s possibly the fear of failure that paralyzes me ¡V It could cause me to do nothing.
4. God says ¡V
a. Come to me when you are weary
b. Come to me when you are heavy hearted.
c. Trust in me for your salvation
d. Trust in me when your hope is gone.
e. Satan has no claim on your life!
i. Quit living like he does
ii. Quit surrounding yourself with sin and sinful people. They are impacting your life.
Don¡¦t give Satan a foothold on your life. Whatever we agree to give him, he will take even more. We have to protect ourselves and our hearts. (Advance)
Ephesians 4:27 ¡V and do not give the devil a foothold.
ii. God¡¦s assurance for us ¡V ¡§I will be with you¡¨ (Advance)
Joshua 1:5 ¡V 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. (Advance) „³ Blank
1. God will take us and hold us as his children
2. God desires to know us personally
3. It is God¡¦s desire that we work for the common purpose of seeking the lost ¡V not only that but also saving the lost.
Several years ago inside a Wal-Mart a young kid named Adam was kidnapped. Realizing the size of the store and many other factors Wal-Mart established a ¡§code-Adam¡¨ which means that everyone in the store, from the cashier, to the Store Manager will look for a lost child. It doesn¡¦t do an ounce of Good to find the child and not return him/her to their parents or guardian. We should take bringing people into the church and helping them understand God¡¦s gift ¡V as serious as Wal-Mart does a lost child.
The next command for Joshua is found in verses 6-9 (read) (Advance)
Joshua 1:6-9
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Advance)
II. Keep my Word (6-9) (Advance) „³ Blank
a. God¡¦s assurance ¡V Be strong and courageous
We have nothing to fear when God is on our side.
It¡¦s like God is saying, ¡§JOSHUA will have the chance to be strong and courageous.¡¨ It¡¦s amazing to me that in 4 short verses Joshua is told 3 times to be strong and courageous.
i. This is scary!
ii. God doesn¡¦t offer paths paved with lilies and roses
I doubt too many people who walk down the spiritual dark alleys of life look at the alley and think to themselves ¡V ¡§This isn¡¦t all that bad, it will give me the chance to grow as a person.¡¨ -- We don¡¦t think like that!
iii. It will take EVERYTHING you have ¡V But you will have victory! (Advance)
Psalm 56:4 ¡V In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me? (Advance)
The author repeats himself 7 verses later.
Psalm 56:11 ¡V in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
(Advance)
Psalm 62:8 ¡VTrust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. (Advance) „³ Blank
iv. God knows everything that will happen this coming year ¡V we have to trust him.
v. We can be sure that God will give us the chance to trust him this year.
vi. When we step out in faith we have to trust him.
1. If it¡¦s youth fellowship or something else ¡V We have to know his will and trust him that he will provide.
b. God¡¦s assurance ¡V You will be Prosperous and Successful
Sounds a little like I am preaching a ¡§health and wealth sermon¡¨ -- If you become a Christian everything will be wonderful for you the rest of your life. But that¡¦s not what I am saying at all. However let us look at what God says about being successful. Starting with verse 7 ¡V follow me as I read (Advance)
Joshua 1:7-8 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Advance) „³ Blank
c. God¡¦s first desire is that we
i. Understand his law ¡V
1. You have to know what you are following.
Someone said they can deal with many how if they know a few whys.
ii. Know His Law ¡V more than just understand (Advance)
Psalm 119:9-11 ¡V 9How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
(Advance) „³ Blank
iii. Apply His Law ¡V More than just knowing and understanding
1. The ability to put into practice
2. ** Promise ¡V Your work and your effort ¡V if you don¡¦t depart from what I have given you ¡V will be successful. You will have VICTORY!
d. God¡¦s command
i. Keep his word
ii. Obey his word
I replaced the word Law ¡V Did you catch that? After all we are a New Testament Christian church ¡V We aren¡¦t under the old law ¡V So how do we deal with the preacher saying over and over ¡V Keep his Law.
Conclusion:
We live in a ¡§no pain¡¨ society. I want to be like Tiger Woods but I don¡¦t want the many, many hours of practice that he has to endure. I want to be like Michael Jordan but I don¡¦t want to shoot free throws till I can¡¦t lift my arms. I want the victory God provides without getting my hands dirty. I want my flowers to bloom, but don¡¦t want the thunderstorms that bring the rain. I want my marriage to succeed but fail in communication. Do you hear what I am saying? God tells Joshua and he¡¦s telling us that you can¡¦t have victory without fighting. But remember Joshua ¡V Remember Jay ¡V Remember ¡V Carl ¡§I will be with you¡¨ It won¡¦t all be roses and 10 dollar bills, but I will be with you. It¡¦s kinda like this.
There I was on third base scared to death. I heard the crack of the bat and remembered the coach saying that if he hits the ball RUN! I ran ¡V I ran with everything I had within me. I didn¡¦t know that the ball was coming down right in the catcher¡¦s glove. Something happened while the ball was coming down ¡V the catcher lost the ball in the sun. The ball dropped to the ground as I crossed home plate. That¡¦s VICTORY. That¡¦s what God provides for us.
Come this morning if you want that victory, if you have gotten away from God ¡V he wants you back. If you need a church home ¡V this is a great church with leadership that follows Christ. If you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of sin ¡V come as we sing
