Three Fold Warnings Series

Be strong, very courageous and be careful Josh 1:7.

Introduction:

Douglas MacArthur, American general best known for his command of Allied forces in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.

His farewell speech at West Point, May 12, 1962... "Duty," "honour," "Country" - those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you want to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn. They build your basic character. They mould you for your future roles as the custodians of the nation's defence. They make you strong enough to know when you are weak, and brave enough to face yourself when you are afraid. They teach you to be proud and unbending in honest failure, but humble and gentle in success; not to substitute words for action; not to seek the path of comfort, but to face the stress and spur of difficulty and challenge; to learn to stand up in the storm, but to have compassion on those who fall; to have a heart that is clean, a goal that is high; to reach into the future, yet never neglect the past; to be serious, yet never take yourself too seriously; to be modest so that you will remember the simplicity of true greatness; the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. They give you a temperate will, a quality of imagination, a vigour of emotions, a freshness of deep springs of life, a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, an appetite for adventure over love of ease. They create in your heart sense of wonder, unfailing hope of what next, joy and inspiration of life. They teach you in this way to be an officer and a gentleman. I do not know the dignity of birth, but I do know the glory of death. Always for them: Duty, honour, Country.

Likewise, here we see Josh 1:7. We advise our children, spouse, parents, friends and dear ones. These very words were repeatedly pronounced by YHWH to Moses then to Joshua, then to Israelite's and prophets (Dt.5:32). God of all generations. He never changed; his words never changed. His promises never changed. Be strong in you, Be courageous before others

Be careful to observe and obey in the sight of the Lord.

Joshua was only a plain, fiery soldier, with energy, swift decision, promptitude, self-command, and all the military virtues in the highest degree (Maclaren, 2018).

BE STRONG 1:6,7,9:

Meaning powerful, effective, skilled or doing good at something, firm and determined, difficult to break and destroy.

In Dt. 31:7-8 Moses said these same words to Joshua, again God confirmed these sentences to him. The words of Moses were the words of YHWH. The same way these words were repeated by Joshua to Israel in 10:25.

Our life should be filled with the Word of God. We all need to give importance to the word of God.

The words of Jesus are so powerful, Creative, encouraging and life filling. Our preaching, witnessing must be of the LORD and from the LORD. In Jud.14:14 Samson told a riddle. “out of the strong has come something sweet. If you are strong in the LORD you are sweet, good, useful, pleasing person.

Some are always discouraging, volatile, pessimistic. But be positive, be strong. Let people enjoy your fellowship, friendship, leadership.

Joab said to his brother be strong to fight, be courageous for our people, for our city (1Chr.19:12-13). DAVID said to his son Solomon in 1 Chr. 28:20. Be strong to finish the service of the lord, work of the Lord.

Be stronger to dispute those who are stronger in apostasy (Eccl.6:10). Be strong to bind the evil (Mt.12:29, Lk. 11:21). Be strong in the Lord (Eph.6:10). Be strong to wait for the Lord (Ps.27:14).

Be Courageous:

Moses said stand firm (Ex.14:13). Jesus was courageous to take up the cross. The soldiers and guards had come to arrest him. He went and asked whom do you want. They said Jesus. He said “I am”.

DAVID went in the battle against Goliath with courage. (2 Sam 10:12). Ac 4:12 peter and John were courageous to speak the name of Jesus in midst of persecution, they uttered how can we keep quiet. Heb. 4:16 says ‘take courage to come near to the throne of grace’.

Be careful:

Dt.5:32 be careful, not turn to right or left. Dt. 4:40 says “Keep his statutes, his commandments for your own wellbeing and that of your descendants after you, you may long remain in the land”.

Mathew Henry: Joshua must himself be under command; no man's dignity or dominion sets him above the law of God. He is to encourage himself with the promise and presence of God.