Now Therefore Arise Full

Now Therefore Arise

Joshua 1:1-2

Jesse Howard

THESIS:

To encourage Christians today to prepare and step up in church leadership.

INTRODUCTION

A. There is an estimated 12% decline in attendance in the church of Christ between 1980 and 2007.

B. Between 1990 and 2025, an estimated 1,269 congregations of the Lord’s Church have closed their doors.

C. There is an easily visible trend toward smaller numbers in the Lord’s church according to statistics.

D. The number one reason for this decline in membership is a lack of retention in younger audiences.

E. This problem is one that we must not take lightly.

1.

Many members of the church have simply thought, “the Lord will take care of us.”

2.

While that is true, the Lord cares for us through many different avenues.

3.

One of those avenues is the labor of His saints (Matt. 9:37-38).

F. Souls are in danger.

1.

We do not have the time to sit around and wait for this issue to solve itself.

2.

Congregations are one generation away from either continuing faithfully or disappearing entirely.

3.

The church has never survived because people simply occupied pews.

4.

The church survives because faithful Christians sacrifice themselves for the work of the Lord.

G. Fortunately, we are not left without an answer.

1.

The solution was given by the Lord to Joshua in Joshua 1:2.

12.

“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise.”

3.

Israel had lost one of the greatest leaders they would ever know.

4.

Immediately God commanded them to move forward.

5.

The work did not stop because Moses died.

6.

The church cannot stop working today either.

H. Therefore:

1.

Now is the time to work.

2.

The work begins with me.

3.

Unified, we conquer the land.

DISCUSSION

I. NOW IS THE TIME TO WORK

A. Moses was one of Israel’s greatest leaders.

1.

He followed and loved the Lord with all his heart.

2.

Israel was not perfect while Moses lived among them.

3.

They were still led very well because of Moses’ dedication (Num. 12:7; Deut. 34:10-12).

B. Consider everything Moses had done for Israel.

1.

He stood before Pharaoh.

2.

He led Israel out of Egypt.

3.

He stretched his rod over the Red Sea.

4.

He received the Law from God.

5.

He dealt with constant rebellion and complaining.

26.

He interceded on behalf of Israel repeatedly.

C. Moses became stability for the nation.

1.

Then Joshua 1 opens with the words, “Moses my servant is dead.”

2.

Just like every man eventually does, Moses died.

3.

At some point every great leader passes away.

D. The same is true in the church today.

1.

Faithful elders will eventually pass away.

2.

Deacons will eventually pass away.

3.

Preachers will eventually pass away.

4.

Bible class teachers will eventually pass away.

5.

Strong older Christians will eventually pass away.

E. What happens to the church then?

1.

Many congregations fail because they become dependent upon only a few strong members.

2.

Once those members are gone, nobody is prepared to continue the work.

3.

Some stop working because their leadership is gone.

F. Listen carefully to Joshua 1:2.

1.

“Moses is dead; now therefore arise.”

2.

There was no pause in the work.

3.

There was no command to sit still.

4.

There was no command to stop moving.

5.

God acknowledged the loss, then immediately commanded action.

G. The same principle applies to the church.

1.

Great men in the church have passed on.

32.

But their passing does not mean the work stops.

3.

We still have work to do (Matt. 9:37-38).

4.

There are still souls that need saving (Matt. 28:19-20).

5.

Christians still need encouragement.

6.

Children still need teaching.

7.

Congregations still need strengthening.

H. The church cannot survive on memories alone.

1.

We cannot only talk about what faithful brethren used to do.

2.

Christians today must decide to help carry the load.

3.

Now is the time to work.

II. THE WORK BEGINS WITH ME

A. The Lord commanded Joshua personally.

1.

The command began with “thou.”

2.

Before Israel could move forward as a nation, one man had to accept responsibility.

B. Joshua could have made excuses.

1.

“I am not Moses.”

2.

“I am not capable.”

3.

“The people will not follow me.”

4.

“This responsibility is too great.”

5.

Yet the Lord still commanded Joshua to arise.

C. Somebody had to keep Israel moving toward Canaan.

1.

The people left to themselves would not accomplish this (Num. 13:31-14:2).

42.

When the spies discouraged Israel, the people immediately gave up.

3.

They wanted to return to Egypt.

4.

They complained against Moses and Aaron.

5.

Without leadership the nation quickly fell apart.

D. The church works much the same way today.

1.

Congregations require individuals willing to step up and labor.

2.

Many people wait for somebody else to act first.

3.

“Somebody else can teach.”

4.

“Somebody else can encourage.”

5.

“Somebody else can study with the weak.”

6.

“Somebody else can prepare lessons.”

7.

Eventually Christians must personally decide to work.

E. Throughout Scripture God used individuals willing to stand when others would not.

1.

Noah preached righteousness in a wicked world (2 Pet. 2:5).

a. Nobody wanted to hear the message.

b. Yet Noah continued faithfully.

1.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ (Matt. 3:1-3).

a. He preached repentance boldly.

b. He did not wait for support before beginning the work.

1.

Jesus suffered the cross alone for mankind (Matt. 20:28).

2.

The apostles established congregations and endured persecution.

F. Faithful servants of God were willing to work even when the responsibility was difficult.

5G. Leadership in the church does not belong only to a few men.

1.

a. Elders.

Certainly there are specific leadership roles:

b. Deacons.

c. Preachers.

1.

But every Christian should influence others spiritually.

2.

Every Christian can encourage.

3.

Every Christian can teach somebody.

4.

Every Christian can strengthen the congregation somehow.

H. Leadership in the kingdom often starts small.

1.

Showing up faithfully.

2.

Checking on weak members.

3.

Studying Scripture seriously.

4.

Raising faithful children.

5.

Becoming dependable.

I. Joshua did not become Israel’s leader overnight.

1.

Joshua spent years serving before Moses died.

2.

Christians today must prepare now for future responsibility.

3.

The work begins with me.

III. UNIFIED, WE CONQUER THE LAND

A. Joshua could not conquer Canaan alone.

1.

God intended for all the people to cross Jordan together.

62.

Joshua immediately involved the people and gave them responsibility (Josh. 1:11).

3.

The people had to work together.

B. If Israel remained divided and discouraged, they would die in the wilderness.

C. The church works the exact same way.

1.

Philippians 1:27-30 teaches Christians to stand fast in one spirit.

2.

Christians are to strive together for the faith of the Gospel.

3.

The emphasis is on togetherness.

a. One spirit.

b. One mind.

c. Striving together.

D. The church cannot function properly as disconnected individuals.

1.

The church functions correctly only through unity.

2.

Unified Christians do not have to fear the adversary.

3.

Satan desires division and discouragement.

4.

A divided congregation becomes weak.

5.

A congregation constantly fighting internally cannot grow effectively.

E. Unified Christians become powerful servants of God.

F. Paul emphasized this again in 1 Corinthians 12:11-31.

1.

Paul compares the church to the human body.

2.

Every part of the body matters.

3.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.”

4.

The head cannot say to the feet, “I do not need you.”

5.

If one part suffers, the whole body suffers.

7G. Every faithful member matters.

1.

Some roles are public.

2.

Some roles are quiet.

3.

Faithful widows matter.

4.

Quiet encouragers matter.

5.

Bible class teachers matter.

6.

Dependable members matter.

H. The church only functions correctly through unity.

1.

We strengthen one another.

2.

We suffer together.

3.

We rejoice together.

4.

We help each other through hardship.

I. Once unity has been established, the church must continue preparing future workers.

1.

Titus 2 teaches older Christians to teach younger Christians.

2.

1 Timothy 3 teaches qualifications for elders and deacons.

3.

Leadership in the church must continue from generation to generation.

J. Healthy congregations prepare for the future.

1.

Future teachers.

2.

Future elders.

3.

Future deacons.

4.

Future faithful families.

5.

Future workers in the kingdom.

K. If congregations fail to prepare future workers, eventually the work collapses.

8L. Unified, we conquer the land.

CONCLUSION

A. We do not know when the Lord may return.

B. What we do know is that there are still countless lost souls needing the Gospel.

C. We cannot waste time refusing responsibility while the church struggles around us.

D. The future of congregations depends heavily upon Christians willing to arise and work.

E. Many faithful servants initially felt inadequate.

1.

Moses did not want to lead.

2.

Gideon did not believe he was capable.

3.

Yet God still used them.

F. God does not require perfection before service.

1.

God requires willingness.

2.

A willing servant can grow.

3.

A willing servant can learn.

4.

A willing servant can strengthen the church.

G. The Lord told Joshua:

“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise.”

H. That same principle applies to the church today.

1.

There is work to do.

2.

There are souls to save.

3.

There are congregations that need strengthening.

I. Now therefore arise.