Tommy Estes
Joshua 1:1-9
Subject: Be Strong and Courageous
Today we are going to take a journey into the Old Testament. To pick up our context we have to understand what is going on. After we have picked up our context, its then we can understand why God inspired Joshua to pen Gods Word down as he takes charge of leading the children of Israel into the promised land. All for our benefit as Paul says in I Corinthians.
This morning we have to get our context from the book of Numbers. We see that God had just rescued Israel from the hand of Egypt and has promised that He would never leave or forsake them so as long they would follow Him. He promised to give them the inheritance of a land that would be flowing with milk and honey if they would follow Him by faith. He fulfilled this by giving them protection from the Egyptians as they crossed on dry ground through the Red Sea. He gave them direction through a cloud during the day and pillar of fire by night.
God faithfully gave them food to eat, and water to drink, but instead of being thankful for Gods protection; Cries of joy soon turned into cries of complaining. Thankfulness attitudes soon turned into unthankful spirits and it filled the hearts of many. God gave them a law to go by to keep them from going astray, and instead of being thankful they turned from God and made their own God and worshiped it.
How much of this do you think God would take? But through the book of Numbers and Duet. you can clearly see the patience that God has for mankind, especially when it comes to His own children. Moving on, when it came time for the Israelites to move on into the promised land that was to be the inheritance that God promised their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God told Moses to send 12 spies into the land and come back and give them a report. When the spies returned it didn’t take them long to forget the Words of God when He promised that this land would be theirs, if they would trust Him.
Out of 12 spies only 2 tried their best by reminding the Israelites that God would be with them. God had to be pretty frustrated with them right now with their unfaithfulness, sour attitudes, totally forgetting what God just did for them against the strongest nation during this time. As they moved on the Israelites started to cry again for water saying wouldn’t it have been better for us to die in Egypt than out here? God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would flow with water, frustrated with the Israelites Moses smote the rock 2x’s and God told him because of this sin he and his brother Aaron would not be allowed into the Promised Land.
And not only would Aaron and Moses not be allowed, but God got so sick of them he told them “Your wish is my command” you want to die…ok then big boy. All of you that are over the age of 20yrs old will die in the period of 40yrs. Those 20 and under will be my next generation and also Joshua and Caleb (the 2 spies that took up for God) would be allowed to live. The Israelites went to Moses asking him to go to God and ask Him to give us another chance but God wouldn’t hear it.
There is a good lesson for us. When we get to the point that we don’t want to follow Gods will in our lives, God may get tired of your unfaithfulness. And the result may be the outcome of these Israelites.
Be as it may, what God was doing was raising up a new nation to fulfill what God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Now as we have gotten our setting, Mosses has just died and Joshua has been charged to carry out this challenging mission. God spoke to Joshua and gave him some very significant standards for not only him as the leader but for the children of Israel as well.
And the result may be the outcome of these Israelites.
Be that as it may, what God was doing was rising up a new nation to fulfill what God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Now that we have gotten our setting, Mosses has just died and Joshua has been placed in charge to carry out this challenging mission. God spoke to Joshua and gave him some very significant standards for not only him as the leader but for the children of Israel as well. He wanted them to be led in success, victory through faith. (Read Text)
You know as well all look around we see new faces in our congregation. God is doing great things at HSMBC and I’m so thankful to be part of it. I was sharing with our small cell group bible study this past Tuesday night that we are the next generation. Look around us. The text this morning is very fitting and parallels the great things that God is doing here. We even have a SS Class with the name New Generation.
It brings me great joy to see the members of our congregation working together, by faith for the further advancement of God’s Kingdom business. Just as God prepared a new generation to advance into the Promised Land, through Joshua. God charged Joshua the new leader, as well as the children of Israel with 3 significant principles. These principles are significant due to the fact of God repeating Himself with them 3 different times all within 4 verses. God said, “Be strong and Courageous”. If God said it more than once, then we need to take note of that and realize its importance.
What is the importance? God wanted this generation of His people to rely on Him for strength and courage. God has given us the same promise to this generation here at HSMBC if we follow these 3 significant principles. This morning lets go into this text with a heart that yearns to glorify God. Lets learn that by being strong and courageous in the Lord, you are then able to receive your:
I. Inheritance. Vs 5, 6
A. What is courage? Courage has several synonyms: bravery, valor, fearlessness, heroism, confidence, nerve. It also has several nicknames: guts, grit, backbone.
B. There’s one very important thing we need to notice about courage. You will never witness courage in someone who is at ease in Zion. Courage is seen in the person who’s back is against the wall, when the odds are against them, when the pressure is on, when the flaming arrows are close, when the pain is intense, when the attack is at hand.
C. We see courage in David when he walks into the Valley of Elah with his sling to take his stand against Goliath. We see courage when Moses stands eye to eye with Pharaoh. We see it in Elijah when he challenges the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. Courage can only be seen in the midst of conflict and struggle.
D. Why did God tell Joshua that he needed to be courageous? What was Joshua going to face that was so difficult that he would need to be courageous? Besides being the leader of the nation of Israel, God had given Joshua a project to complete. His first task was to lead his army into Canaan and drive out the people who lived there.
Sounds like an easy job, but remember, 40 years before this under Moses’ leadership he had sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan. They came back with stories of giants living in the land who made them look like grasshoppers. When the people heard this they became afraid and refused to enter the land.
There were seven nations living in Canaan, all of them larger and stronger than Israel. By all human standards Joshua was facing an uphill battle. He had every reason to turn tail and run. That’s why God encourages him so many times: Be strong and courageous. And what is your reward? A land that is flowing with milk and honey! A land that is so rich and fertile that grapes had to be carried by 2 people.
Hey do you ever feel like you’re facing an uphill battle? Do you feel like the odds are against you? Honestly, there are hundreds of times in our lives when we’re faced with situations that, to our eyes, seem impossible! There are outward circumstances like illnesses and disabilities, broken relationships, financial hardships, the loss of a job, etc. Then there’s the inner conflicts that test our faith, like attacks on our personal integrity, remaining faithful when no one is looking, enduring the sting of loneliness and separation, standing alone when you’re misunderstood. There are many times in our lives when we need to hear God’s command to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” We need not only to hear it in our personal lives, but we need to hear it within the ranks of our congregation as we move forward, fulfilling Gods purpose as a Church. The prize is the inheritance. Land that is flowing with milk and honey. Is that your inheritance? Do you want that to be your inheritance?
Secondly its through Being Strong and Courageous that leads to a:
II. Prosperous life. Vs. 7, 8
A. There is a misconception in the world that we live in. The misconception is that success is measured on the basis of how successful that we are. How we measure that success is often based on a worldly standard rather than a Godly standard. Success by the world’s standard often means luxury, wealth, and possessions, achievements, and fame, beauty, and brains.
B. If we measure our lives by the world’s standards we will have an inaccurate and incomplete view of whether or not we’re successful. God’s standard of measurement is nothing like the world’s standard.
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Illustration. Amazon.com = 24,776 books on how to live a prosperous life. 24,776 books that ranged from 7 spiritual laws to being successful, how to dress successfully, success principles to get you from where you are to where you want to be. Now that is the worlds standard to becoming successful.
C. Now do not get me wrong, I am not condoning reading other books, but the point that I want to bring you is this…The world offers you 25,000 books on how to be prosperous. God gives you 66 books! The world gives you 25,000 books filled with principles to be successful- God gives 3 found here in our text!
D. God says, vs. 6.(1- be strong and courageous) Look what else He says 2nd. Observe. ùÑîø (shamar) in the Hebrew and it means to keep closely to your heart. To keep guard.
God wanted the Israelites to keep His words close to their hearts so that they might not stray away from Him. God was preparing them for success and a prosperous living through observing His Word.
Remember the land that they were fixing to going was already occupied by pagan nations and if they went into the land unprepared and not know the standard they would adopt their culture and religion. And that is why He gave the 3rd principle to being successful is by:
E. Meditation of Gods Word. The literal meaning to meditation is to mutter, growl or utter. It means to think upon. Ponder on His word. Let it speak to you. It means that when you read the bible you ask yourself; what is it that God wants me to learn from this? And when you read it, you pray about it. It means you let God unfold the mysteries that are in this book. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
F. David said in Psa 1:3, And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
G. When a child of God as well one of God’s local N.T Churches meditates on His Word that is when we will prosper. Its then we feel better about our lives, we feel better about ourselves. Meditating on Gods Word makes you strong, your branches bloom, it brings us closer to God. How close do you feel to God? Ask yourself right now. When was the last time I picked up Gods word and just read it?
H. There is a song that is sung at Church Camp; I want know, I want to see your face, I want to know you more. Do you want that? Many children have a close relationship with their parents, but what is your relationship like with your heavenly Father? In order to be prosperous in our life and in this church then we have to Be Strong and Courageous, Observe Gods commands, and Meditate on His word day and night.
Lastly the significant aspect of being strong and courageous results in:
III. The ability to move forward without fear of the unknown. Vs 9
A. Again we have to remember that these men and woman of Israel were fixing to go into uncharted territory.
B. They were ants compared to these Giants that they were fixing to go into battle with. There city walls were monstrous, they reached into the heavens. They probably had stronger weapons, better lines of defense; logically everything was going against the Israelites. So the Israelites had great reasons to be afraid. Without keeping God in their cross hairs they wouldn’t not have gone into the promise land.
C. You know, we can act in the very same way. Sometimes when God leads churches in different directions we tend to be afraid of the unknown, that’s not the way we have always done it. But if it’s in the direction of God and for His honor and glory then we need to hear Gods sweet words tell us not to be afraid.
D. Being Strong and courageous is the result of acting upon faith. Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
E. Its by faith that we can rely on God when He says my Child don’t be afraid. I am here with you. Its by faith when the world offers lemons and tries to discourage us God says, don’t be dismayed because I am here with you.
F. Don’t be afraid or discouraged because God is for us, then who can be against us? God promises victory through obedience in faith to His word. When we follow God through faith, its then we receive our inheritance, and that’s when our relationship with Him is strengthened.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So how about you this morning? How is your relationship with God in light of these verses that we have studied this morning? Are you strong and courageous? We are moving forward here at HSMBC and to do that then we have to be strong and courageous. We have to meditate on His Word, and we have to move into uncharted territory knowing that God is with us. Do you know He is there? If not you can (tell how...ABC’s) (then tell about following through obedience in baptism)
Are you afraid of the unknown? If you’re saved then you don’t have to worry about the unknown. How about those battles that you face in your life. Are you doing it by yourself? You don’t have to because if you are saved then God is there with you. But it’s up to you to recognize that He is there. Do you feel Him right now moving in your life?
Maybe you’re here and you looking for a church to be apart as we here at HSMBC prepare to cross the Jordan, doing Gods purpose with servant’s hearts. Would you right now seek Him for the direction that He has in store for you?
