The Battle Belongs to the Lord

“Be Strong and Courageous”

Joshua 1:1-18

Introduction

· In February 2023 we did a series called, “ANSWERS FOR THE STORMS OF LIFE”

· Learning to face trials and hard times in life Biblically

· That is what we will be tackling today

· Title: “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS”

Main Text

Joshua 1:1-9

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 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. 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. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 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. 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.”

VS 1:1-9 – Overview

· Do you think God was on Joshua’s side?

· Do you get the feeling he should be strong and courageous? – Mentioned 3 times

· In these VS we God encouraging Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promise land

· He encourages him through instruction, commands, and promises

VS 1:1-9

· God is the one who chooses to the people He wants into leadership positions

o Not because of who we are or what we can do, but according to His will and purposes

o After Moses dies, God appointed Joshua to lead His chosen people into the promise land

· In the text, God is preparing Joshua to face the challenges that will come

o Particularly enemy nations

· God knows that neither Joshua nor Israel have the strength and power to defeat these nations on their own

o God knows that without him, they will be fearful, worried, and anxious

o So He gives Joshua instructions and promises giving him confidence Israel will triumph over them

The instructions in VS 1-9 are:

· VS 2: Now therefore ARISE, GO into the land that I am giving you.

· VS 6-7 +9: God instructs Joshua to “BE STRONG AND COURAGIOUS” 3 times – Repetition indicates importance

· In VS 7-8: God commands Joshua to obey God’s law and commands

o To not walk away from them – He says not turn from it to the right or the left

o To not let the law depart from his mouth and to meditate on it day and night

· God’s last instruction is to not be frightened or dismayed when they take the land God gave them

With these instructions, God gives Joshua 5 promises:

· 1st - He will GIVE the promise land to Israel - The same promise He gave Joshua’s forefathers

· In fact, He phrases it in past tense – It’s already happened - Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I HAVE GIVEN to you

· 2nd - God promises that when Joshua battles God’s enemies, no one will be able to stand before him all the days of his life.

· 3rd - He promises that He will be with Joshua. That He will not leave him or forsake him – God promises to be with Joshua everywhere he goes

· 4th - The promise that Joshua will be successful as a leader - You shall CAUSE this people to inherit the land, for the Lord your.”

· Last - God promises Joshua that if His people obey God’s law and meditate on it, they will have good success wherever they go.

Let’s now take what we’ve learned and apply it to our own lives

We live our lives in a constant battle with hard times and with sin

· All kinds of negative emotions fill us when things go south

o Fear

o Worry

o Anxiety

o Anger

o Stress

· And it’s okay because these are a normal, natural responses

· It’s not our initial response that matters

o It’s what we do next that counts

Basketball illustration

· Team runs off a lot of points and your team is reeling

· The coach most always takes a time out to regroup and refocus

· We too must do the same thing when hit hard by a storm

o Take a time out and step out from the middle of your circumstance

o When we can do this – It allows us to think clearly from a different perspective

So, what is this perspective?

· The perspective of Biblical truth

· For the remainder of our time - We’re going look at the things we need to know and need to do to win our battles – To help us BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS in the midst of them

Let’s start with the things we need to know

1st - It is very important to understand that this is a spiritual battle – Understanding this will help us win this war

Ephesians 6:12

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

1 Peter 5:8 tells us who our true enemy is

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

· When we are hit with a storm and when we are tempted to sin

o The devil comes and lies to us – He tries to destroy us

o It’s like a sign for the devil – “We’re open for business”

· So if it is a spiritual battle, we need a spiritual solution

· The good news is there is one

· Scripture tells us that the BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD – He fights foR us and the VICTORY IS HIS

2nd– We need to know that God puts us through all kinds of trials – And we need to know the reasons why He does

· God DOES give us more than we can handle because He wants us to mature in our faith and to depend and rely on Him

James 1:2-4

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 5:3-5

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

3rd– We must know the promises God gives us as revealed in Scripture

· Here are just a few:

o When we pray – The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds

o He promises to will never leave us or forsake us

o Nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus

o We are equipped with the full armor of God

o That Jesus has overcome the world

o And as I already mentioned - The battle and the victory belongs to the Lord

· The list goes on and on

· Think of how strong and courageous we can be when we know these promises and that God always keeps them

Let’s now go to the things we can do to fight alongside God

1st – Immediately go to God in prayer

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

· Pray for God to give you the wisdom to go through trials – James tells us that God gives us His wisdom generously when we ask for it

2nd– HERE’S A SHOCKER - Immerse yourself in regular study of Scripture

· How else will we know who God is – What He has promised us – All He has done for us through Jesus – And how to live out our Christian lives

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

· We fight our battles with the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT – WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD

4th– Don’t go at it alone – seek help from mature Christians

· Doing this, they can:

o Comfort us

o Build us up

o Encourage us

o Give us hope

o Pray for us

o Remind us of the Bible’s truths

o Help us BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS

How would your life change when you know these Biblical truths?

How would your life change when you apply these spiritual disciplines?

When the storms in life hit us – When we are tempted to sin – The spiritual war begins

· And it begins within us – The battle between:

o Faith or doubt

o Obedience or disobedience

o God’s strength or our strength

o Submission or rebellion

o Trust or anxiety and worry

o Hope or despair

· As we step outside of the trial to look at it from a different perspective – Let’s answer these questions

o Will God do what He has promised to do?

o Will God provide all we need to win the spiritual war against sin and evil?

o Will I face the storm walking in strength and courage by faith in God?

· Our answers to these questions will determine the outcome

End with a Quote – Paul David Tripp

When you hit hard times, when your weakness is exposed, be ready for the enemy to whisper in your ear, “Where is your God now?” and be ready to respond, “He is where He has been and always will be – with me in power, glory, and grace.” You won’t always feel His nearness, but you can rest assured He will never abandon you. He is the One who said, “Behold, I am with you always” and He never goes back on His Word.

Next Week

Mark 2:1-17