Called to be a Victor

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.”

Numbers 14:26–35 NKJV

26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 27 “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. 28 Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: 29 The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. 30 Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. 31 But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. 34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. 35 I the Lord have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’ ”

Arise and go

Arise Koom- Arise, establish, constitute.

The idea here is that the people should set there hearts on moving forward.

Those who do not have their hearts set on new victories will say things like, Thats not who we are, or, we’ve never done it that way before. Sometimes you may hear things like, well the way we use to do it was…

I can hear some of the Israelites saying for forty years, I’m tired of this same old manna and quail, but at least we didn’t have to face any giants or great cities.

However, God was wanting to conquer new territory, but it was going to demand that the Israelites cross over into new territory.

The still served the same God, they still had to make the same sacrifice, but they were going to have to take a different approach.

In the end, they would leave the familiar worship of the tabernacle, but God would grant them the Temple.

2 Kings 6:1 NKJV

And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.

But, before they would ever see the power of God that was witnessed by their ancestors they had to purpose in their hearts that they were going to follow God, wherever He led. Although the temple would not be completed for 440 years after the Israelites crossed over the Jordan. They were willing to build for the future.

They had vision beyond themselves.

The Israelites looked back on the previous forty years and new they wanted to leave something for their children besides the wilderness. They were ready to fight in faith trusting God to build a future for their children’s children.

A. With clear direction

Canaan

They land would be divided. it would look different for each tribe and generation, but they all had a place.

B. With a clear purpose

Conquering

The land may change but the victory did not.

Be Strong

The word literally means to be tough, GET HARD, or repair.

God is telling them to return to the conquering mindset. Gain the strength that they had lost in the wilderness.

In many ways God is telling them to cowboy up. He was calling them a generation of week men, who claimed to be strong men but whom were to week to actually do anything. He now says, its time to step up, be men, and lead with strength.

There is an obvious observation in this passage.

They are told to be strong, but not how to be strong.

A. In your commitment to follow the Word of God.

v.8

B. Because the Lord goes with you.

v.9

Be Courageous

To have courage means to be bold.

Not only does God call them to go, and be strong, but he says to do so with courage.

Courage is knowing something might hurt but doing it anyways.

Courage stares pain, suffering, and loss in the face, knowing the outcome, and refuses to move out of the way.

Courage denies itself.

How do we find courage to leave the familiar and follow God?

We do so by knowing:

A. Be bold in our actions.

v.6

B. Be bold in our obedience.

v.7