Movement of Faith

Introduction

The final scene of Deuteronomy shows Moses standing on Mount Pisgah, gazing down at the land long promised, the land he will never enter. We can imagine he is weary and worn from years of leadership. Moses died there in Moab, and the Israelites wept over his death for 30 days. Gladly, the story doesn’t end there. God’s relationship with His people didn’t end with Moses’ death. Joshua 1:1 picks up with the people of God and their move into the Promised Land.

Our series Journey of Faith is an 8 week series through the book of Joshua. The people of Israel were moving to possess the land promised in the book of Exodus. This would fulfill the promise made to Abraham by God, who never goes back on a promise. The people of God soon found out that the land could be possessed only when they walked in obedience to God’s direction and when they depended on His strength, not their own.

The Book of Joshua becomes a clear picture of our walk with God today. Just as Israel moved from the bondage of Egypt, the believer moves from slavery to sin through faith in Christ. God faithfully provided for the Israelites and worked on their behalf, just as He does for us in our lives. I believe as we walk through the book of Joshua we will find encouragement to lead a life of FAITH.

Today we are going to start in Joshua 1. We are at the beginning of a new year which is a unique time and a perfect opportunity to assess where we are mentally, physically, spiritually, relationally. It’s a moment to take inventory on where we are doing great and where we are doing not so great, and it gives us a moment to assess, make some changes, and resolve in the New Year to do things differently. Often times correcting the wrong to get back on the right track. How many of you guys made new years resolutions? How many of you guys have already failed in keeping them? That’s okay! We want to make progress forward! That’s the ultimate goal, not perfection but progress.

As believers we should always be progressing on the spiritual journey. However, many times we stop short in receiving what God wants us to have. Israel stopped short when they failed to enter the Promised Land the first time. In their disobedience, they wandered in the wilderness instead of receiving what God had promised.

Our stopping short may be the result of holding onto some sin or refusing to follow God’s direction in certain matters, but the end result is this: because we wander, we fail to enjoy the blessings of God. So how do we move from where we are to where God wants us to be? The people of Israel give us some clues.

Receive the Challenge (v.2)

I want you to notice something really cool about Joshua that I don’t think that we may not initially think about. Joshua was with Moses throughout all of his leadership to the Israelites. That’s about 80 years! 80 years before he was called to be the guy leading the Israelites. Here’s something very valuable to notice: Faithfulness in a few things is always demanded as a condition for ruling over many things. Joshua was faithful for a long time behind the scenes before God ever spoke to him to be in leadership. Who can tell today what God is preparing you for? Our little sphere of service seems so inadequate and so unworthy. But I want to say to you that every hour of it is essential if God would make you a man He can use. We must suffer if we would reign. God’s will for a man’s life never comes through the big things but through the little things.

After Moses died, God challenged Joshua to possess the land. This was not a decision to accept lightly. Since Joshua had been with the Israelite people, he knew of their weaknesses and problems. And though he was well past middle age, Joshua accepted God’s challenges.

Challenge to the untamed

The Jordan River was at flood stage during this time of the year. How much better would it have been to cross when the weather was dry and the river was low! However, we honor God in our willingness to trust Him during hard times or times that just don’t make sense to us. Everyone faces crazy situations in life. God wants us to walk across the river and face the challenges. God often reveals His power best in times of seemingly great challenge.

The land of full salvation in Jesus is not free from conflict or the presence of foes. Full blessing in the Christian life is not bestowed except to eager, hungry people who press in to receive it. God does not pour out of His fullness on a plate and invite us to help ourselves at a low level of expectancy. He desires every one of His children to press in against all the assaults of the enemy, that we may lay hold of that which is our inheritance in the Lord.

Challenge to the unknown

This isn’t just a record of historic events but is a revelation of what God can do in and through the life that is utterly yielded to Him.

The Israelites were preparing to walk where they had never walked before, into a land unknown to them. They were a brand-new generation of people.

Not one of us knows what the future holds. Each day we face the new and unknown. Most of us fear the unknown, so often we settle for problems instead of facing our challenges. Following God into an unknown territory, though, creates in us a dependency on Him which can lead to victory.

Sprinkle of application-Where do you need to accept the challenge of faith that God has placed in your life right now?

Recognize God’s Commitment (v.5)

Joshua could accept the challenge because he recognized God’s promise to him. In essence, God said to Joshua, “If you accept the challenge, I’ll commit myself to you.”

Powerful presence

In v. 5, God reminded Joshua that nobody would be able to stand against Israel. Not because of their power, but because of His power. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, He too, promises us His power and presence for our lives.

Personal presence

This power is not of angels but of the Lord HIMSELF. God initially showed His presence as the house of Jacob left Egypt by an accompanying cloud or pillar of fire- but no more. Even when you don’t see God, He is there. The people of Israel were to be willing to face the challenges ahead because God was with them.

Permanent presence

v. 5 also carries the assurance that Joshua would never be left or forsaken. Christ has made us the same commitment. He has given us His Spirit to live in us so we won’t be alone. God’s presence becomes personal when we respect God’s commands.

How can I be a person who God can use? What sort of person does God entrust with spiritual leadership? We are inadequate and weak. God is speaking to Joshua who had been second in command to Moses for so long, and had been content with it! But now God is telling Him that Joshua is the man in charge now…but he felt weak and afraid. SO God tells him to be strong and courageous.

Respect God’s Commands (v. 7)

God told Joshua that he was to obey the law of God. Though Moses was gone, the law remained. To move into the land and claim victory, the people of God had to be obedient. Today God calls us to be obedient to His Word in our lives. This respect for God’s Word is to be:

Complete

Just as Israel was to obey the law, we are to implement all of God’s Word into our lives. We cannot treat Scripture as a buffet line in which we pick and choose what we will obey.

Consistent

God told Joshua not to vary from the law. He was to obey the entire law and to do so every day! This wasn’t a weekend religion that made no difference in daily living.

For the Israelites, getting to where God wanted them meant facing their challenges with the promised presence of God and doing as God directed.

But hear this loud and clear: Moses was the giver of the law, but the Law, even though holy and good, couldn’t give life or justification before God. Only Jesus could do that. The Law was restrained in it’s ability to give us life because it was dependent on our ability to keep it. So see this as a picture of Moses and Joshua and the Law and Jesus.

Moses had to pass from the scene before Joshua could be commissioned and given orders to take people across the Jordan into the Promised Land. But also look at Joshua’s name (It means “Yahweh is Salvation”). It is also the Hebrew equivalent to Jesus. Joshua is a picture of the Lord Jesus and His saving life who provides us not only with redemption, but with the power we need to enter into and possess faith. The Old Testament points to Jesus everywhere! No set of laws or amount of “doing good” can make us saved. Yes we have to be obedient to the Word of God, but it’s more than that. It’s a life to be lived BY FAITH in the POWER OF GOD. We can’t live the Christian life in our own energy or our own determination. The Christian life isn’t just being Mr. Nice or keeping a set of rules. It is a faith relationship with God to be lived out in reliance on God’s power by God’s Word for God’s glory.

Land the Plane (v.10-11)

The truth is that we ALL have no clue what this upcoming year holds for any of us. We have goals, we have aspirations, we have resolutions, but only God knows what is coming. As we face the challenges and opportunities that God has called us into, let’s remember these promises of God to Joshua. With the call of God to service there is ALWAYS God matching it with his provision.

But notice this: Joshua didn’t delay when God called him. I don’t know what you need to be obedient to God in today. Maybe it’s your next step of faith: Salvation, baptism, repentance, serving, forgiveness. But DON’T DELAY: Delay is dangerous in our spiritual lives and can lead to hardening your heart! Delayed obedience is disobedience. And Joshua did it knowing what was coming with his “YES” wasn’t going to be easy. But here it is: Joshua’s eyes were solidly on the Lord.