The Life & Times Of Joshua

Sermon

By Pr. Paddick Van Zyl

Sep 2014

The Life And Times of Joshua

Intro:

In 1832. long before Abraham Lincoln became president he gathered a group of men to fight in the Black Hawk war. In those days the person that put together a volunteer company for the militia often became its leaders an assumed a commanding rank. Lincoln was give the rank of captain. But he had a slight problem in that he knew nothing about soldiering. No prior military experience. He had trouble remembering the procedures and commands used in the military. One day while marching some men across a filed, Lincoln had to guide them through a gate and he could not manage it: “I could not for the life of me remember the proper command for getting any company endwise” said Lincoln. He finally shouted :"This company is dismissed for two minutes, when it fall in again on the other side of the gate!” Over time his influence with the other militia decreased as did his rank. While others were proving themselves and being promoted, Lincoln began as a captain and ended up as a private at the end of this military career. Title and position did him little good. Over time and with experience though he became a great influence and a great leader....

#Taken From: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You By John Maxwell p19-20

God raised a leader, named Joshua who was very successful because he had the Spirit of God on him....

Text:

Joshua 1:1-18 NKJV

God’s Commission to Joshua

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying:2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

The Order to Cross the Jordan

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”

12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying, 13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them, 15 until the LORD has given your brethren rest, as Hegave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the LORDyour God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 So they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”