Reaching Forward With God’s Presence

Text: Joshua 1:1-9

Introduction

I remember back when I realized that I was without God. Now, He was all around me, yet, I had not entered a personal relationship with Him through Christ. His “presence” was all around me, but not within me. There is a difference! Then came a cold December night when all of that changed! What once was a soul completely separated from God, became a soul that would that would never be without Him!

At the moment of receiving the gift of eternal life through God’s grace (Jesus Christ), the God of “all grace” becomes an eternal Father who never abandons you!

BIG THOUGHT — God’s presence is a promised reality for every believer. However, what are the blessings and purpose of God’s presence in the life of a believer?

IMPORTANCE — Entering God’s will, remaining there, and leading others there depends on you operating your life on this truth: God is with you every step of the way.

1) God’s Presence Is Unchangeable

“Like I was with Moses”

A. The absence of significant presence

Joshua’s sorrow and heartache were real.

Many of you have been at a similar moment in your life.

Example: Think back to probably the hardest moment of the death of a parent, mentor, trusted friend, or your encouraging spouse.

Story — My grandpa was one of those moments for me / My father-n-law was another moment for me.

As you think back to the emotional and psychological weight, know that that is exactly where Joshua was.

The loneliness had increased, the thought of “I can’t do this on my own.”

The thought, “What if I mess it all up?”

Who was Moses to Joshua?

A foundational mentor and teacher — taught him by example; a bridge between God and him to know the right decision and direction to go…GONE.

A Model of servant leadership — Joshua was always by his side; Moses was the one who had intimate connection with God; he demonstrated patience with the people.

A model of obedience

A spiritual father figure

B. The calling of God’s presence

(v1) “The Lord spake unto Joshua”

John 10:27 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

Joshua had to make a decision: Listen to God (or) listen to my sorrows.

I am thankful God can speak louder than my deepest sorrow and darkest despair!

Illustration — Child Walking in Dark with Parent: Illustrate how a child afraid of the dark becomes brave when holding their parent's hand. The darkness hasn't changed, but the presence changes everything. God's presence transforms our fear into courage.

God will never allow you to continually think that you are alone and can’t move forward!

Hebrews 13:5–6 “5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Jesus has given us: His Spirit, Bible, Prayer, local church, and a future hope

C. The immutability of God’s Presence

(v5) “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee”

God promised to never bring failure or despair into Joshua’s life and leadership.

In what ways was God with Moses?

Miraculous power; physical necessities; protection; victory; divine instruction; gave him support (Aaron, Jethro, elders); person reassurance……

2) God’s Presence Is Directional

(to a greater inheritance)

There was a land waiting for them: A land God had prepared for them (v2-4)

A. His presence directs you to His provisions

It would require some traveling, making God #1 priority, sacrificed pleasures, death to pride, confession and repentance, owning your mistakes, trusting God against your own ideas, losing friends, standing with the minority,

It all had to do with Christ!

Psalm 16:11 “11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Psalm 23:1–3 “1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

B. His presence guides you to His victories

(v5) “not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of they life”

Notice the victories God gave Joshua:

Crossing Jordan; Jericho; A-i; 5 kings; Anakims…

What do the victories look like that God desires to give you today?

Able to have a pure mind; able to extend forgiveness; able to apologize against the shame and regret you have; able to inconvenience yourself with joy; reserving your body for your future spouse; able to apologize to your spouse and children with humility;

Philippians 4:8 “8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 “57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3) God’s Presence Is Powerful

A. God empowers you with strength and courage

Amazing thought — The outcome for pursuing God for strength and courage impacts multiple generations (v6).

Joshua's obedience didn't just affect him - it gave his children and grandchildren a homeland. Your decision to prioritize God's Word today creates spiritual inheritance for generations.

to be strong v. — to be or become strong or powerful beyond the average or expected; whether physically or in one’s constitution.

to be courageous v. — to be able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching.

2 Timothy 1:7 “7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

B. Strength and courage are accessed from God’s Word

How many of you desperately need whats in God’s Word?

In what ways does God provide His Word to you?

If you need it as much as you have admitted you do, why are you not prioritizing every option He has given to you?

LISTEN…(I am not saying this to pat my own back) why is it that I answered the call to prepare three sermons per week, teach a Sunday School class no one is stepping up to teach, sending out daily devotionals, printing outlines, sending out encouraging videos, why annual revivals, why prayer services, why VBS, why Men’s Conferences…?

YOU DESPERATELY NEED THE WORD OF GOD!!!

Colossians 3:16 “16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

a) Without praying in strength and courage from God, you will never base your decisions and live your life on the basis of GOD’S TRUTH (the only truth). (v7)

b) Your strength and courage demands private meditation on God’s Word. (v8)

There must be meditation before application!

Illustration — Coffee Maker Analogy: Just as you can't have coffee without letting it brew, you can't have spiritual strength without letting God's Word "steep" in your heart through meditation. Reading quickly is like pouring hot water through grounds without brewing—you get weak results.

Biblical Illustration — The Israelites couldn't stockpile manna - it spoiled. You can't stockpile spiritual strength from Sunday's sermon to last all week. Just as they gathered manna every morning, Joshua was told to meditate "day and night."

Examples: Salvation; baptism; local church; evangelism; service; sacrifice; etc.

C. Success is optional

Notice verse 8

“thou shalt make they way prosperous”

Illustration — Recipe Following: Success with God is like following a recipe exactly. You can't skip ingredients (meditation, obedience)

“prosperous” — to cause to prosper v. — to cause to make steady favorable progress or succeed.

LISTEN…success is not something that happens over night! Success for the glory of God is built on single decisions to prefer God over the flesh

Galatians 6:7–9 “7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Conclusion

Joshua 1:9 “9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

"Whithersoever" means "wherever" - the hospital room, the unemployment line, the prodigal's return, the mission field, the nursing home. Unlike fair-weather friends, God's presence has no geographic or circumstantial limitations.

Before there can be the “wherever,” you need to know about the “whosoever”

John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 10:9–10 “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”