JOSHUA 1 What Are We Going To Do?
Joshua: Courage To Fear • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsGod’s marching orders for Joshua and His people are clear as they leave the wilderness of sin and head toward the promised land. Christ’s Word to us is just as clear as we die to sin and come alive to His leading.
Notes
Transcript
TEXT: Joshua 1:1-9
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Why Joshua?
Over the course of 18 months, it is our hope and intention that we will try to preach from the different sections/genres of Scripture:
This Book of the Bible:
A good study Bible will have good BOOK INTRODUCTIONS.
If you researched any of your study Bibles, you’ll recognize some of these attributes about the book of Joshua:
it is named for the most famous Israelite in the generation after the death of Moses.
it describes the history of the generation that crossed the Jordan River and entered the promised land of Canaan.
we will see some battles and examples of faithfulness that are some of the greatest stories of faith in the Old Testament.
Joshua will lead God’s people to defeat their adversaries as God directs.
He will help oversee the dividing up of the land by tribes.
And the grand finale; he will renew the covenant between the people and God - calling the people to CHOOSE TO SERVE THE LORD!
The main them of Joshua is captured in Joshua 23:14:
14 “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.
Here is how the book is divided up:
CROSSING INTO THE LAND (1-5)
TAKING THE LAND (6-12)
DIVIDING THE LAND (13-21)
SERVING THE LORD IN THE LAND (22-24)
BUT THIS WON’T BE A HISTORY CLASS / Our goal is to follow the thread of Christ in this book: Jesus said about himself,
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
Christ is the destination of salvation history.
The Bible is the road map that leads to Jesus.
Ultimately, the Bible is about the Man of salvation who carries out and fulfills the plan of salvation.
Joshua is timely.
Joshua is a great picture of Christ…
We can watch Joshua’s life and Israel’s journey and learn a great deal about living ON MISSION - IN OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD
In a very real sense, we find ourselves around 1450-1425 BC
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
While we know the fast-paced book of Joshua tells the story of people who lived long ago whose culture was very different from ours;
one thing has stayed constant between their time and ours: FACING CHANGE
At the beginning of the book, Moses, the nation’s beloved leader, dies (Joshua 1:1). BTW, this links this book with Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 34:1–9).
What does God do?
God appoints Joshua as their new leader.
Joshua wasn’t given this position because God ran out of choices.
Joshua had been Moses’ young aide for a number of years (Ex. 24:13; 33:11; Num. 11:28).
Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim (Num. 13:8), and lived 110 years (Josh. 24:29).
Before Moses’ death Joshua was designated his successor (cf. Num. 27:15–23; Deut. 3:21–22; 31:1–8).
God deliberately chose Joshua for this task. This was a huge responsibility.
Can you imagine being Joshua?
I would feel incredibly insecure—especially following in the shoes of a leader like Moses.
Can you imagine being the people?
It would be hard to trust a new leader during a time of so much change.
TRANSITION
TRANSITION
CHANGE IS CONSTANT / EVERYWHERE
Some of you noticed that this year in your school work. Each year should challenge you a little bit more and more.
Some of you have noticed that on your job.
Some of you have noticed change in your home!
One thing you can always depend on…things WILL CHANGE.
24 \…The grass withers, and the flower falls…
Moses has died. WHAT NOW?
Our text begins with God speaking…and Joshua listening!
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant,
When God’s servants take time to listen, they will find that God always communicates with clarity.
TODAY - He speaks through His written Word.
BUT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, He spoke in dreams by night, in visions by day, through the high priest, and occasionally in an audible voice.
It could be that Joshua may have felt a sense of loneliness as he waited near the Jordan River to hear the voice of God. But he waited EXPECTING God to hear!
He was not disappointed.
God gets right to the point and moves forward with Joshua, giving him immediate instruction and encouragement (Joshua 1:2–6).
Let’s zoom in on a few verses in our text today to frame this incredible plan of GOD for his people in the midst of this TIME OF INCREDIBLE CHANGE!
Notice how…
1. GOD TELLS THEM/US HIS PURPOSE (v1-2)
1. GOD TELLS THEM/US HIS PURPOSE (v1-2)
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.
- GET UP FROM HERE
- GET UP FROM HERE
- GO WHERE I LEAD YOU
- GO WHERE I LEAD YOU
Abrahamic Covenant
- GO AS A PEOPLE FOR MY GLORY
- GO AS A PEOPLE FOR MY GLORY
“you and all this people”
“…I am giving to them”
“…to the people of Israel.”
>>God Tells US His Purpose
that all should come to repentance
Eph 2:1-10
made us alive
raised us up as a Heavenly people
Ephesians 2:7 “7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
I think this instruction holds well for us, too!
GET UP FROM HERE!
Gathered for worship.
GO WHERE I LEAD YOU!
to people who do not know me as Savior & Lord
GO WITH ONE ANOTHER…FOR MY GLORY!
the harvest is plentiful & ready…we need laborers.
2. GOD GIVES US GREAT PROMISES
2. GOD GIVES US GREAT PROMISES
Joshua 1:3-7
(3) I have planned this
(3) I keep my promises
(4) I set boundaries (Acts 17:26)
(5) Your enemies will fall (Canaan was no joke…real enemy - no match for God)
(5) I will not leave you / forsake / drop
(6) Be strong, courageous - you are a part of my plan
(7) I’ve given you a path to success in your walk with me; Be obedient to my Word
For us…
(v3 - God had planned this) God is completely in control.
(v3 - God keeps His promises) Christ is the YES of God’s promises. God keeps His WORD
2 Corinthians 1:20–22 “20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
1 Peter 1:24–25 “24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”
(v4 God set boundaries) God has placed us where He wants us..
Acts 17:26 “26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,”
(v4 God’s enemies will fall) The enemies of the cross / church will fall
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”
(v5 God will not leave us) GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE US
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.
Hebrews 13:5 “5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””
(v6 you are a part of this plan - be obedient to my Word) BE STRONG & COURAGEOUS
1 Corinthians 16:13 “13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
2 Corinthians 4:16 “16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
Ephesians 6:10 “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
You cannot obey what you will not know.
You cannot know what you will not seek out.
Why?
- God tell us His purpose through His Word, just like He told them.
God gives us great promises (not through HALLMARK, OR GOVERNMENT) THROUGH HIS WORD, just like He did them.
3. GOD CHANGES US (AND LEADS US) WITH HIS WORD
3. GOD CHANGES US (AND LEADS US) WITH HIS WORD
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.
If Joshua is going to stay on course and not move to the LEFT or the RIGHT…he’s going to have to know what GOD SAID!
We cannot have the mind of Christ without the Word of God.
We will not delight in the law of the LORD unless we delight in the LORD of the law
GET IN THE WORD, SO THE WORD CAN GET INTO YOU
AND YOU WILL KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT’S VOICE
YOU WILL KNOW GOD’S VOICE
STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED
The only way that Joshua will “prosper and succeed” wherever he goes is IF HE GOES WHERE GOD LEADS HIM.
Joshua is to focus on the word of God’s instruction
without being distracted by the world, his flesh, and the Devil.
Joshua needs to KNOW BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, THAT God will not leave or abandon him
and HE WILL EXPERIENCE THAT REALITY THE MOST as he consistently obeys God
(note “consistently” instead of “constantly”)
Joshua 1:7-9
(THEM - LAW) / US - GOD’S WORD
on our lips (v8) “from your mouth”
in our hearts (v8) “meditate day & night”
under our feet (8) “careful to do” - walking in obedience
in our head (8) “written therein” - we’ve read it.
HEAR, READ, STUDY, MEMORIZE, & MEDITATE
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?
(v8) A WAY THAT PLEASES HIM - “make your way prosperous” - the way that He is leading them
(v8) A WAY THAT BLESSES YOU - “good success” in your walk with me
(v9) STRENGTH commanded - His power, His strength when we go His way!
(v9) COURAGE commanded - Karle Wilson Baker, who defined courage as “Fear That has said its prayers”
AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE
Wherever you go, you don’t have to be AFRAID (terrified) as you walk with Him
Wherever you go, you don’t have to be DISMAYED (disheartened) as you walk with Him
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation
APPLICATION
There is a sense of “What do we do now?”
Maybe you have felt this way in recent days…in light of so many things we’ve seen that we weren’t made to see.
GOD HAS A PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR YOU, child of God.
Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
GOD HAS GIVEN US GREAT PROMISES, child of God.
Isaiah 26:3 “3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 11:28–30 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””
GOD WILL CHANGE YOU WITH HIS WORD
Romans 12:1–2 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
So get it on your lips
…in your heart
…under your feet to guide your steps
in your head
LIVE YOUR LIFE TO PLEASE THE LORD - IT WILL BLESS YOU!
BE STRONG! BE COURAGEOUS! (take your fear to a prayer meeting and force it to bow at the feet of Jesus)
BE AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE!
LIVE. ON. MISSION!
(invitation to the lost)
