The Secretes to a Successful Mission (6)

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Give Honor

Text : Joshua 1:1-9

Joshua 1:1–9 NKJV

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.”

One of the most popular shows that everyone knows about or at least heard of is a show called “Mission Impossible.”

For those of us who do not know,

Mission impossible is a popular american series that tells the story of a secret spy who goes on various missions, that the higher ups tell them to go on.

This show is full of action.

Mostly the whole show is them fighting and maneuvering

To complete the mission that their boss tells them to complete.

and one of my favorite parts of the show is not necessarily the fighting or the maneuvering,

but one of my favorite parts of the show, is the beginning. When the spy receives their marching orders.

Somehow the spy is placed in a situation where he’s alone, a

nd the spy has a one on one with their higher ups, to determine what their mission is “Should they decide to accept it”

This is what this text puts me in the mind of.

Though Joshua is no spy, At the setting of this text, we enter into a conversation between God and Joshua, where Joshua receives his marching orders for the next phase of his life.

Joshua has been working under Moses for years and it’s finally his turn to take over.

HE IS THE CHOSEN SUCCESSOR.

HE IS NEXT IN LINE.

There is an opportunity before him,

BUT IT IS ON HIM, TO SEIZE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

Joshua, the chosen successor.

The next up

The chosen one

the New sherrif in town.

Joshua.

and the truth is, Joshua did not get succession through lineage nor did he pay his way into succession. But he was chosen by God.

Joshua didn’t lie his way into succession. But he was chosen by God

He didn’t be underhanded to get into succession but he was chosen by God

He didn’t talk about or belittle another to get into succession no He was chosen by God

Because the truth of the matter is, the next phase of your life has nothing to do with who you are or what you have,

But it has everything to do with WHO’s you are and what he has.

and there are some Joshua’s in here young and old who’s been struggling with their calling.

Because they are not in the right circle

Because they are not at the right church

Because they have not always done the right things

Because they were not born into the right family

But Joshua had none of that, HE SERVED HIS WAY INTO SUCCESSION.

and some of you need to know that the KEY to unlock the door to your success is your SERVICE!!!!!

Serve your way to the top

Set up chairs

Clean up bathrooms

Get on the drums

Get on the keyboard

Sing in the praise team

Carry the Bible

Pick up some trash

Clean some microphones

Work in the sound booth

Serve on the planning team

Don’t worry about a title

Don’t worry about having your name called

Don’t worry about wearing a collar and a robe

Don’t worry about what they gonna call you at aim or holy convocation

JUST KEEP SERVING.

JOSHUA served his way into success,

and it is now his mission to take the children of israel into the promise land,

but He has to give him a few secretes so that his mission can be successful. .

and through this text tonight we will see, That if we follow the secretes of success that God has given us, we too will be the receiver, of God’s mission being made possible in our lives.

and the question becomes, what are the secrets?

What are the things we need, to complete a successful mission.

The first secrete is to....

Remember God’s Promises (Joshua 1:1-3)

In the first 5 verses of this text the Lord gives Joshua promises and hope of what is to come.

It’s the end of the Moses era and the Beginning of the Joshua era.

It’s the end of one regime and the beginning of another.

It’s the end of Moses’ time as we know it.

The torch has been passed.

The guards have changed.

It is a new season, and The Lord is making sure That Joshua is ready, to take on this role.

I can only imagine how Joshua must’ve been feeling.

Grief, from the death of moses.

Uncertainty from this new season.

Maybe unsure of himself.

am I the right guy for the job?

am I supposed to be here?

what do I do next?

and it’s here in this text where we see, That God makes Joshua promises, to help ease the burdens of the mission laid before him.

God Promises Joshua territory. He says you are going to take over the land. That everywhere your foot treads, will be yours.

He promises him power. He says no man will be able to take anything from you.

Then he promises him his presence. HE says I WILL BE WITH YOU.

And in our times of uncertainty of the mission we have to constantly remind ourselves that God is a God that Keeps his promises.

If God said it then that settles it.

If he promised you success, then it’s yours

If he promised you Joy, then it’s yours

If he promised you prosperity, then it’s yours.

If he promised you a husband, then it’s yours

If he promised you a wife, Then it’s yours

The only thing standing between God, and God’s promises is US.

We allow the enemy to fill our heads with lies.

But if you want to know the secrets of success, you have to learn to Remember what God said.

He said you will be the head and not the tail

He said you will be above and not beneath

He said you will be the lender and not the borrower

He said you will be the successful

He said you are a Royal priest hood

He said all things work together for the Good of them that Love the lord and those called according to his purpose.

and God is a God that doesn’t waste words. IF HE SAID IT,

HE WILL DO IT

If he said you will get the degree, you will get it

If he said you will get the job, you will get it,

If he said you will get the house you will get it

If he said you will be an entrepreneur be it

because God is a god who never lies.

HE HAS GOOD CREDIT WITH US.

HE’S A MAN WHO KEEPS HIS PROMISES.

Not only should you remember God’s promises.

BUT THE SECOND SECRET IS

You must

Remain Strong and Courageous

BE STRONG.

3 times in this text did God say be strong and courageous.

3 times he mentions this.

3 times he tells Joshua to be strong and courageous.

He keeps telling him.

It’s almost like God is placing emphasis on On strength and courage.

BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, A LOT OF US MISS THE MIRACLE OF THE MISSION BECAUSE WE ARE TOO WEAK AND AFRAID.

BUT IT TAKES STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO be successful.

Because the truth is, God may very well give you a promise, But the enemy will try to distract you from what God has already promised you.

It takes strength and courage to get married

It takes strength and courage to Lead a church.

It takes strength and courage to live for christ.

It takes strength and courage to say no to what you want to say yes to.

It takes strength and courage to stand for what’s right.

It takes strength and courage to “Do it God’s way.”

It takes strength and courage to start a business

It takes strength and courage to not be ashamed of having the holy Ghost

It takes strength and courage to share the Gospel with some one.

It takes strength and courage

and the mission is too valuable for you to waste it being fearful.

To seize the opportunity will take some strength and courage.

Be strong on the mission

Be strong doing it God’s way.

Be strong in God’s will.

Be strong when you’re taking on new jobs

Be strong when you going into new relationships.

A poem we learned in my fraternity goes like this, “I am not here to dream or drift. I have work to do and loads to lift. I shun not the struggle because it’s God’s gift. Be strong be strong be strong.”

there’s too much work for you to do to be fearful.

There’s to much destiny on the line for you to quit.

BE STRONG.

REMEMBER GOD’S PROMISES.

REMAIN STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.

BUT ALSO IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON THE OTHER SIDE.

READ GOD’S WORD

The Bible says that God tells Joshua “Be careful to observe all laws that moses Gave you. God says Keep the law on your lips. Meditate on it day and night.”

God says Be strong enough to “Digest the word.”

He says you have to read it

you have to speak it

You have to know it

you have to apply it

you have to submurse yourself in it.

Because it’s the word that has the answers to any problem you have in your life.

His word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against man

His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Heaven and earth will pass away but his word will never pass.

The Grass withers and the flowers may fall, but his WORD shall remain the same forever.

You have an oppurtinity to be successful but you have to know the word.

You can overcome temptation with the word,

While Jesus has been fasting 40 days and 40 nights, Satan comes to tempt Him and tells him to turn the stones to bread… and Jesus responded with the Word, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that preceded the mouth of God.”

The word can help you overcome grief.

The word can turn depression to joy.

You can find peace in the word

Joy in the word

Long suffering in the word

you can find strenth in the word

Courage in the word

Sustainabaility in the word.

If you’re afflicted you can say “many are the afflictions of the righteous but the lord delivers them out of them all.”

and my seasoned saints can testify, “I WAS YOUNG AND NOW IM OLD. but I never see the righteous forsaken nor his seed

So he tells Joshua to know the word because it was Joshua’s job to be the leader. But he could not adequately lead, if he did not follow the word.

Maybe your failures don’t come from your inability to do the work.

But maybe your failures come from your inability to read the word.

You will find every attribute of God in the word.

God the father is in the word

God the son is in the word

God the holy spirit is in the word

God the healer is in the word

God the way maker is in the word

God the mind regulator is in the word.

It’s all in the word.

If you are going to seize the opportinity, take his word with you.

you have to have strength and courage As a leader,

you have to have strength and courage, In the Law.

If you want to be successful on the other side

remember God’s presence

Remain strong and courageous

Read God’s word and then

Rely on God’s presence

God reminds Joshua that He will be with him wherever he went.

He says so as you step into this mission, Remember that you are not stepping into the mission alone.

As you go into this new season, remember you’re not going through it alone.

As I was with Abraham- I’ll be with you

As I was with Isaac- I’ll be with you

As I was with Jacob-I’ll be with you.

As I was with Joseph- I’ll be with you.

As I was with Judah- I’ll be with you

As I was with noah in the flood- I’ll be with you

As I was with Aaron, Ill be with you

As I was with moses, I’ll be with you

As I was with your grand mother- I’ll be with you.

As I was with bishop so will I be with you

There’s never a place where you go that I won’t be with you.

Seasons may Change, Situations may Change, But I am a who does not change.

He’s the same healer

He’s the same providor,

He’s the same protector,

He’s the same heart fixer,

He’s the same one who brought you through covid

He’s the same one that healed your sick body

He’s the same one that Helped you when you were hurting.

So find strength in God, because God is a God who WILL NOT LEAVE.

Just look at somebody and say he aint gone leave me!!!

I was sinking deep in sin

far from the peaceful shore

Very deeply stayed within

sinking to rise no more

BUT THE MASTER.

it reminds me of my relationship with my best friend “Nordoriyan Boatner”

Nordoriyan is like a brother to me.

He’s two times my size.

He IS huge.

Played OLINE.

Back in the day we would all go to parties in highschool.

Sometimes a fight would break out.

If Im by myself, IM GONE.

But IF IM WITH BIG BOAT. I’m ready to fight everybody.

He asked me one day WHY ARE YOU SO HOSTILE?

I said because I got you with me. and I know that If I lose, you’ll take my slack.

and some of you in here, God has been. CLOSE