Following God

INTRODUCTION

New Year’s Resolutions

Many of us make “resolutions,” and they tend to last about as long as it took to write them down.

Instead of “resolutions,” this year, we’re looking at a New Beginning.

A new beginning isn’t just a list of some things we’d like to accomplish.

A new beginning is a fresh start. It’s an opportunity to remember the past, but look ahead to the future, celebrating what the Lord is accomplishing here and now.

Resolutions have an end date — a new beginning is just the start of a beautiful storyline.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll dissect what a new beginning looks like for us, using the book of Joshua.

This morning, we’ll be in Joshua 1, and we’re going to see that a new beginning requires following God.

READ: JOSHUA 1:1-18

PRAY

Historical Context

Let’s understand a little about where we are in the Biblical narrative.

God has delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

He led them through the wilderness, all the way up to the land that he promised to them for their home — Canaan.

The land was occupied already.

So, they sent out 12 spies, they came back, 10 said they couldn’t take the land, 2 said they could because the Lord was with them.

Ultimately, they acted faithlessly, and the Lord punished them for it.

Wandered 40 years in the wilderness.

That generation had to die off.

We’ve reached the end of that 40 year punishment. The people are ready to enter the Promised Land, and Moses — their leader — dies (End of Deut., immediately before Josh. 1)

Joshua steps to the helm to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Set-Up

The people of Israel are primed for a new beginning — a fresh start.

They have a new leader.

The disobedient generation is gone.

They’re entering a new land that’s to be their home.

They really have an opportunity to write their story in whatever way they choose.

They can be faithful to God and claim his blessings for them.

They can be disobedient like their fathers and wander in the wilderness some more.

Ultimately, we see they choose a successful new beginning, because they choose to follow God.

We’ll see from their decision, what following God looks like in our lives, and in our church.

1. Following God takes COURAGE. (v.6-9)

Look at God’s encouragement to Joshua...

There’s a motif that gets repeated — BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.

Repeated 4 in 3 verses.

The Lord knew what they were going to face.

He understood what was waiting on Joshua, and the people.

He knew the battles they would have to fight.

He knew how the cultures they were crossing the Jordan to conquer would be wicked and oppose his kingdom.

He knew Joshua would face challenges even from within his own people.

His admonition to Joshua to be strong and courageous is almost like God saying:

“Joshua — you’re going to have challenges. This isn’t going to be an easy road. You’re going to need to decide NOW — upfront — if you’re going to be strong and courageous in the face of difficulty.”

Joshua’s (and the people’s) decision/resolve to follow God was one that would be met with obstacles and challenges. Each of those challenges would have to be met with strength and courage.

Courage in 2024

Let’s be honest… we’re not facing armies, but the decision to follow God today is one that requires great courage.

Scripture reminds us over and over again that following God is not the “popular” decision.

TRUTH: God’s ways are directly opposed to the ways of the world. When you choose to follow God, when we choose to follow God, it immediately puts us at odds with the world around us.

Think of today’s world...

Choosing to follow God means you stand in opposition to the culture.

Loving and serving God doesn’t make sense to those around you.

You don’t chase after the same things they do.

This might mean:

Losing friendships

Strained family relationships

Not being part of certain social circles

Questions from those around you — why don’t you do xyz? THEY WON’T UNDERSTAND YOUR ANSWERS.

You have to decide upfront if you’re going to have the courage it takes to follow God, regardless of the consequences.

Think of the church. Following God may mean...

Waiting on God’s timing

Doing things differently — Interim process

Not looking like other churches in town

It doesn’t always make sense to conventional wisdom. You get the strange looks, the questions, etc. We have to decide up front as a body — are we going to have the courage to say we’re going to follow God, no matter the cost?

Here’s the good news: Joshua had courage, and we can have courage for two reasons...

1. Preparation

Joshua was READY by the time he was faced with this crossroad.

Think about Joshua’s life...

approx. 40 when Israel delivered from Egypt.

Spent first 40 years of his life as a slave.

Knew God’s provision/deliverance first hand.

Moses’ assistant

He studied/learned under Moses for years.

He saw first-hand what it meant to follow God, and not follow him.

Spy

One of 12 sent into Canaan the first time. Only he and Caleb came and reported in faith.

By the time we get to Joshua 1, Joshua is as prepared as he can be to lead the Israelites to follow the Lord.

God has been using the events of his life to prepare him for this very moment.

First Baptist: We’ve been preparing for this moment.

We’ve spent the last year and a half...

Seeking the Lord

Growing in faith

Learning what it means to follow

All leading up to a crossroads moment: Will you choose to follow God?

2. Presence

Joshua’s source of courage wasn’t his own accomplishments — it was the abiding presence of God.

Look at Joshua 1:5

Joshua 1:5 ESV

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Our courage comes in know that when we’re following God, he’s present with us. He’s the one strengthening us, the one giving us victory in the battle.

Story of waves as a kid.

We can be courageous because of God’s promise to be with us.

Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

2. Following God takes COMMITMENT. (v. 16-18)

The people — specifically the 2.5 tribes settling on the east side of the Jordan — make a COMMITMENT to follow Joshua, who they trust is following God.

Choosing to follow God isn’t something that happens haphazardly.

Not something we decide on a whim.

Isn’t something we can be wishy-washy about.

Choosing to follow God is a serious decision that requires serious commitment.

This isn’t a short-term agreement.

Some things in life we can commit to for the short-term.

Used to, you entered a 2-year contract with a cell phone carrier. You can commit to just about anything for 2 years.

This is a long-term, no going back commitment, no matter the consequences.

Look at how seriously they took this commitment — the resolve they had...

v. 18: Anyone who DOES NOT FOLLOW is to be put to death.

That would be an interesting business meeting...

The point they’re making is this: We’re drawing our line in the sand right here, right now — that we’re going to follow God, wherever he leads. No exceptions, no turning back.

Julius Ceasar — landed with his legions in Great Britain.

Ordered his men to stand on the cliffs of Dover and look down at the water.

They looked to find all of their ships engulfed in flames. There would be no retreat.

That’s the commitment we’re talking about — a resolve that says we’re going to follow, no matter what.

3. Following God takes COMMUNITY. (v. 12-15)

If we’re going to be a people that follow God, it takes everyone.

Look at Joshua’s charge to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half of Manasseh...

Understand what’s happening here: These tribes had already inherited their “Promised Land!”

The area designated for these tribes had already been conquered and given to them.

They had no incentive to follow Joshua across the Jordan River and risk their lives.

But watch this: The rest of Israel needed them to go, or they would be divided and the mission compromised.

There are no spectators in a church that’s following God.

No one gets to say:

“That’s not my problem.”

“That doesn’t affect me.”

“I’ve done my time.”

It took the whole of Israel to conquer the Promised Land.

Everyone had a part to play.

Michael Jordan — March 28, 1990 Bulls played the Cavs.

Jordan went for a career high 69 points.

Rookie: Stacey King. Scored one point.

“I’ll never forget the night Jordan and I combined for 70 points.”

Everyone has a part to play.

Follow God in your personal life, and pray for the leaders of the church who are seeking God’s direction.

Help others stay on track as we follow the leadership of the Spirit together.

Shut down gossip/negative talk.

Encourage those around you.

Champion a change or transition in a ministry that you don’t see as directly affecting you.

The tribes Joshua charges were willing to go to war for their fellow Israelites. Why? Because they recognized that they were all in it together as a nation.

You may not have a vested interest in children’s ministry — but would you cheer them on and fight alongside them as they strive to follow God?

You may not feel particularly called to be a Sunday School teacher/connect group leader. Would you encourage them and support them as they’re teaching the Word?

You may not have any skin in the game, but the reality is there are no bystanders in a church following God — instead, everyone is united around the same goal/desire, and is working toward the same end.

APPLICATION

This was a people that knew the consequences of not following God.

First time they tried to enter Canaan — they were faithless and disobeyed God.

Result? They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. (INSERT MAP)

We typically think of the wilderness as a vast expanse, with the Israelites traveling thousands of miles, wandering aimlessly.

The truth? It took them 40 years to travel about 200 miles — the journey from Egypt to Canaan should have taken them 11 days.

They even knew where they were supposed to be going!

Instead, they spent 40 years traveling in circles on a small peninsula, so close to the Promised Land they could taste it.

Second Result: An entire generation had to die in that 40 years.

Some Bible scholars did the math...

Approx. 1,078,000 Israelites died in the wilderness in that 40 year period.

That’s:

26,950/year

2,245/month

561/week

80/day

3/hour

Imagine…because of their disobedience — because they chose NOT to follow God, they spend the next 40 years, wandering right outside the entrance to what they could have had, stopping the caravan every 20 minutes because someone else has died.

What a CONSTANT REMINDER of the consequences of not following God.

As a result, they found themselves in a situation only God could fix.

Solution wasn’t:

A new leader

New armor/weapons

New ideas

Nothing was going to suddenly “fix” their situation. The only solution was to follow God.

Look at those opening verses....

“to the land I am giving the Israelites. I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads...”

The solution/success only comes from God.

In many ways, we’ve found ourselves wandering in a wilderness.

Many of us have seen first-hand the consequences of not following God.

But make no mistake — the solution for us isn’t:

A new pastor

A renovated building

More church members

All of those things are good and valuable, and yes we have a desire for them, but understand this: The only real solution we have is to submit to the authority of Almighty God and commit to following Him.

Matthew 16....

Jesus asks the disciples who people say he is...

They answer: John the Baptist, Elijah, a prophet...

Jesus asks who THEY say he is. Peter pipes up:

“The Christ — the Son of the Living God!”

Jesus response: "Blessed are you Simon.” Then turns around: “You are Peter, and on this rock — this confession that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior — I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.”

Your pastor won’t build it

Your convention won’t build it

Your programs won’t build it

I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, and when I BUILD IT, the very gates of Hell itself won’t stand against it.

CONCLUSION

First Baptist: What kind of church do you want to be?

Do you want to be a people wandering in the wilderness, or one known for following God?

Interesting — you can look at the history books, and see pivotal moments. Moments where a group of people decides to take a stand, and the trajectory changes.

What’s our trajectory going to look like in 2024 and beyond?

When our children and grandchildren look back on these days, what will their attitude and response be?

UNDERSTAND: This starts with a personal decision.

That’s the foundation of everything else — the foundation of us following God as a church begins with us choosing to follow him as individuals.

If we flip ahead to Joshua 24, Joshua is nearing the end of his life, and he leads the people of Israel in renewing their covenant before God.

He reminds them of all the things God has done, and then gives them a “line in the sand” moment:

Joshua 24:14–15 ESV

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

This morning is your line in the sand moment.

As individuals, and as a church: Choose this day whom you will serve.