The Response Of Faith

‘THE REPONSE OF FAITH’

JOSHUA 1:10-18

George was 28 years old, single, and still living with his parents. One Sunday morning, George told his mother he wasn’t going to church. "First," he said, "I’m tired. Second, the people there don’t like me. And third, the sermons are dull." But George’s mother wouldn’t take no for an answer. "George," she said, "you have to go. First, we always worship on Sunday. Second, it doesn’t matter whether they like us or not. And third, you are the pastor!"

God has always had some rather reluctant leaders. Moses didn’t want the job and flat out told God to “find somebody else.” Jeremiah thought he was too young. Jonah didn’t like being a prophet to Nineveh. But Joshua is ready to be God’s leader.

But we need to remember that Joshua had patiently served God as helper for many years. Some think you ought to be a full grown Christian in a few weeks, but it will take time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the same is with Christian growth.

This passage shows us the response of faith Joshua made after his promotion, and his obedience to God in going into the promised land. Thus today, let us look at two responses of Joshua and the people.

I-NOTICE THE COMMAND OF JOSHUA TO THE PEOPLE: 10

A-THIS COMMAND INCLUDED A PROMPTNESS:10 ‘then’

Once a duty is discovered, then it should be discharged right away.

David-Psalms 119:60-”I made hate and delayed not to keep thy commandments.” God’s motto is today, the devil’s is tomorrow.

Our trouble sometime is that we are in more of a hurry to sin than to obey God and his commandments.

When you you want to do something, you usually can do it pretty quick.

When my boss at the Chevrolet place years ago told my-self and the shop foreman we could have tickets that day to the Alabama-Auburn ball game, we got ready in 30 minutes.

When we put things off spiritually and don’t act promptly , it will cost us.

Once, a little girl asked her father to go to Sunday School with her. He would say maybe next Sunday, today I am going to relax and rest. The years passed, and finally, he found time to go. But then his girl refused, she said, I got to rest, I got to sleep. His delay cost him and his girl.

B-THIS COMMAND INCLUDED A PLAN: 10

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

Joshua shared his plan with his officers of the people. There is a chain of command.

In verse nine, Joshua is commanded by God, and now Joshua commands his officers. And in verse eleven, the officers command the people.

A man who was with Eisenhower in the days prior to the Normandy invasion, while Eisenhower was deliberating what to do, paints a dramatic picture. England’s General Montgomery was urging Eisenhower not to invade; other generals were advising the opposite. Eisenhower never said a word. He paced back-and-forth in the room while all eyes were upon him. The fate of the whole war was in his hands—perhaps the fate of the entire world.

Finally Eisenhower stopped his pacing, turned to the Generals and spoke: "All right," he said, "I have made a decision. Here is what we will do." . Joshua made a decision to obey God.

The Bible says that God is not the author of confusion. Thus there must be some type of organization in the Church. Spiritual chain of command.

But remember, to have authority, one must be under authority. I remember years ago, a Church was having a lot of problems and it was caused by the Deacons. And one of the reasons was that, they didn’t recognize the authority of God over them.

Stuart Briscoe writes: "One of my young colleagues was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran.

The dead man’s military friends wished to have a part in the

service at the funeral home, so they requested the pastor to

lead them down to the casket,

stand with them for a solemn moment of remembrance,

and then lead them out through the side door.

This he proceeded to do, but unfortunately the effect was

somewhat marred when he picked wrong door.

The result was they marched with military precision into a

broom closet, in full view of the mourners.

Their hasty retreat dissolved into confusion.

"This true story illustrates two cardinal rules:

First, if you’re going to lead, make sure you know where

you’re going.

Second, if you’re going to follow, make sure that you are

following someone who knows what he is doing!"

C-THIS COMMAND INCLUDED A PREPARATION: 11a

Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan,