Joshua 1:1-11 Be strong and courageous / Moving forward by faith

What do you expect from 2024?

Better.

Worse.

Unexpected.

Who would have known?

1970 would yield my greatest achievement that would seem to lead to life’s goals

1971 would yield the greatest depression I would ever know

1972 would transform my life in ways I would never have guessed

1976 would result in a time of spiritual wandering that would last years.

1979 would reorient my life and establish new hope

1981 would bring a partner into my life that I never knew possible

1995 would result in the decisions that would shape my future

2003 would provide an opportunity that I had longed for my adult life.

2017 would demand a willingness to surrender my ministry

2019 would restore my hearts desire

2024 What will it bring?

As I look back what were keys to those turning points?

In every case I see the Lord at work in my life.

At times I moved away / at times I moved forward

In all of it the Lord was there.

After all this time, I am convinced of one thing – I want to move forward by faith. I want to depend more on the Lord in 2024 than ever before.

I want to trust the Lord regardless of the days ahead.

So it was with Israel. The Lord had been with them. Drawing them by faith. Sometimes the moved forward / sometimes back.

Now was another of those great transitions.

Joshua stood on the edge of the promised land. It was time to move forward with strength and courage --- they needed to move forward by faith.

I. Moving forward by faith: Claiming God’s promises

A. Be strong / courageous because of God’s promises Joshua 1:6

(ESV) Joshua 1 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

1. Courageous – inner confidence in the Lord

a. Faith within

2. Strong – externally acting based upon dependence in the Lord

a. Faith in action

3. Dependence upon the Lord being faithful to what He has said

a. Inherit the land – promise from centuries before

b. Have faith that what the Lord has promised, He will deliver

1) Previously when they were wanderers in the land --- s and c/faith 2) When they were saved by moving out of the land --- s and c/faith 3) When they endured hardship and it looked like the promises would never be fulfilled --- s and c/faith 4) When they saw the Lord deliver them from Egypt --- s and c/faith 5) When they refused to believe and were in a wilderness time --- s and c/faith 6) When they stood now in a place where the Lord promised to deliver on the promises --- s and c/faith

4. For us – He promises are even more clear – but we face the same types of issues ---- as we face the days ahead will we have --- s and c/faith

B. In spite of the obstacles Joshua 1:1

(ESV) Joshua 1 1 After the death of Mosesthe servant of the Lord, the

Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant,

1. Death of Moses the leader

2. Serious opposition already faced, but major issues ahead – leadership / provision / enemies better equipped to fight and defend

3. Flooding of Jordan – can’t even get there from here

4. Is the Lord able to delver on His promises?

C. Break with the past Joshua 1:2

(ESV) Joshua 1 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

1. Time to act / break with the past / everything new

2. Visible will be no more manna / God directly speaking / Pillar of cloud and fire ---- will need to follow without sight

3. The new will be unfolded day by day

D. Embrace God’s promises Joshua 1:2-5

(ESV) Joshua 1 2 … therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites 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. …

1. Trust to have the victory

2. For us

a. That overcoming sin

b. That doubt and worry

c. That change in life

d. That uncertainty

e. The need for provision

f. The areas in life that would draw us from the Lord

g. That confidence to walk with the Lord

II. Moving forward by faith: Centered in the Word of God

A. Be strong / courageous because of the Word of God Joshua 1:7a

(ESV) Joshua 1 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

1. Have all that you need – the Lord has given direction

B. Fill your mind with the Word Joshua 1:8b

(ESV) Joshua 1 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.

1. Think about it / have your mind shaped by it / know it / read it / memorize it /

C. Speak the Word Joshua 1:8a

(ESV) Joshua 1 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.

1. Make it part of your life / conversation / tell others / discuss in community

D. Consistently obey the Word Joshua 1:7b, 8:c

(ESV) Joshua 1 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.

1. Do it / intentionally / all of it / seek to understand to do / not shape it by what you or the culture thinks

E. A Word-based life the basis of real prosperity Joshua 1:7c, 8d

(ESV) Joshua 1 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.

1. Results in prosperity / success

2. From wise living – it’s the way that the Lord engineered the world to work – do it and natural results flow

3. From the Lord supernaturally blessing / overcoming sin / making us like Christ / source of faith as we understand what the Lord promises / the reward of faithfully doing His will

III. Moving forward by faith: Depending upon the presence of God

A. Be strong / courageous because of God’s presence Joshua 1:9a

(ESV) Joshua 1 5 … Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. … 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

1. Have faith

2. He is there

3. His presence is always there

4. Regardless of where you are

5. With you

B. Overcome fear Joshua 1:9b

(ESV) Joshua 1 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with youwherever you go.”

1. Times when you will be afraid / terrified / tremble

2. To protect

3. To help

4. To give comfort

5. If He is there who should we fear

C. Overcome depression Joshua 1:9c

(ESV) Joshua 1 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

1. To be a companion

2. To encourage

3. Never hopeless

D. Actively live out God’s promises Joshua 1:10-11

(ESV) Joshua 1 9 … the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 10 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving youto possess.’ ”

1. So act

2. Actively go forward by faith

3. He will be faithful