Victory Over Fear, Joshua

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Thoughts and feelings are something that comes very naturally for all of us. Many times we get very overwhelmed by the things going on in our life. We become overpowered by many thoughts about our career, children, finances, health, and thoughts about the future. Yet there are many of us who think about these and are overwhelmed by fear. The fear of rejection, fear of the future, fear of what other people might be saying about us. And we feel so concerned with these feelings that it gets to interfere with the quality of our lives.

By the grace of God you can overcome every hindrance and fear you are facing, and finish what you have started well. In this sermon, we are going to see how God guides us when we are fearful about our future based on the life of Joshua.

Understand anytime you try to make any progress in life the devil does not like it. He is there out to frighten and put fear into you. It is how Satan keeps people from going forward. He puts the fear future into people.

Joshua was one such man. When Moses died, the mantle of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land fell upon him.

Joshua 1:1-2 1

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.

Fear would have gripped Joshua when he had to take up leadership responsibility. Can you imagine having to fill the shoes of Moses? Taking the place of a man who could speak to God through a burning bush, cast down his rod and have it turn into a snake, and then retrieve it and find it a rod again. Can you imagine being the predecessor of a man that could stretch out his rod and divide the Red Sea, a man that could bring water out of a rock when the people died from thirst? It was tough to fit into the shoes of Moses. Joshua had a personal problem handling the leadership.

Joshua also had problems with the people. He now finds himself the leader of a group of people known for murmuring, complaining, backsliding, and wishing they were back where they came from.

Today, maybe you are facing opposition in what God has called you. Maybe you are carrying a big load. Maybe you are facing a crisis in life now. You are wondering how things will end up in your life.

You can fulfil you God-given purpose by God’s grace.

God looked at Joshua and said, “You are the Man I have chosen to lead these people.”

Can you imaging the thoughts that would have gone through the mind of Joshua? “Will people accept me, what will people say, I do not know the way, I am afraid what will happen, there are so many battles to be fought.” Every thought that we have in crisis would have come to Joshua. How could Joshua go forward and fulfil this awesome task? The answer can be found when Joshua and the children of Israel were standing in front of river Jordan.

Joshua 3:1-3 1

Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shitt1im and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.

So God is basically telling here that Joshua you have a new challenge ahead of you. Yes you are going to go to a new place, unknown territory, new enemies, new leadership and you are overwhelmed with thoughts of fear. You just got to do one thing – follow the ark. Wait for the ark and when you see the ark move. Just follow the ark.

In the OT it was the Ark of the Covenant that they were supposed to follow.

Now what is the Ark of the Covenant?

The Ark of the Covenant was placed inside the most holy place in the tabernacle. Hebrews 9:4-5 4 The ark of the covenant contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover.

The ark contained 4 items – Golden jar of manna, Aaron’s budded rod, tablets of commandments, or the book of the law and above the ark was the cherubim of glory. It was in the ark where the presence of God dwelt. Interestingly, each of the items inside the ark point to Christ. It showed God.