Be Strong In The Lord

Introduction - Tonight is a special time indeed.

It is a time of transition.

It is a time of change.

It is a time of moving forward.

We celebrate this wonderful milestone in the lives of these graduates.

What an accomplishment.

I pray you understand that the Liberty Baptist Church family is very proud of you.

As you look around the church house tonight, there are many that have sat where you are sitting… they have moved from one stage in life to another.

And I would challenge you in this way, don’t forsake the wealth of wisdom that God has surrounded you with.

You see —this church family stands ready to help you in any way we can to march forward for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I would like this evening to deliver a message that first of all that I pray that would be helpful to you

But secondly, would encourage all of us tonight.

We will be reading here in Joshua 1 for just a few moments.

Look with me in Joshua 1:1–9 “1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 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.”

Let’s pray

All of us are going to experience times in our lives where we move from one station in life to another.

It is fact of this life that first of all there will be:

I. Changes In Life

Now in our text here, Joshua was about to step into a new role in life.

This man Joshua according to verse 1, had been Moses’ minister.

If you will remember we have an entire record — in the book Exodus — where Moses is the leader of the nation of Israel.

He is at the center of all the a takes place.

However, whenever we find Moses, we also often in the book of Exodus, find Joshua.

He spent His life around the man of God and the things of God.

And now Moses has been called home to be with the Lord.

And this was a major change and transition in the life of Joshua.

And so it is, this evening with these graduates as well, they are moving from one stage of life into the next.

And, we will see here, that in the changes of life, sometimes we can feel uneasy.

Sometimes we can feel out of sorts.

I do not know all of the changes that will take place in your life— but there are several truths here that will be a comfort to us from this passage.

First understand and take comfort in this,

A. God never changes.

Hebrews 13:8 “8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

Here in our text, in verses 2 and 3, the Lord states some obvious truth, that Moses is dead, but that He would still accomplish His work.

He states— in verse 3, “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”

Make note of those words, “…as I said to Moses.”

Can I tell you that the God you have been challenged to walk with, He will always be the same, regardless of where you are.

Friend your circumstances may change, but our God never changes.

No matter what takes place, if you know the Lord as your Savior, you can rest assure that as the writer of the book of Hebrews stated, “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee…”

The Lord told us in this great mission he has us engaged in in Matthew 28, “…. I am with you even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

You see the changes that we experience in this life are not always easy.

In fact, many times we may feel like we are starting all over again— having to learn new things, meet new people, maybe even work in a different place….but God is still the same.

Secondly, can I encourage you about the changes in life:

B. Your Ultimate Destination Has Not Changed.

Now it is a truth, you may choose someday to move away from this place.

I do not know what the Lord has for you, but I do know this, that if you are a child of God, if you are saved— your destination will always be the same.

And might encourage you this way— if you do not know Christ as your Savior—- why don’t you trust Him right now before you step into this new moment in your life?

I can tell you that you can live your life in abiding relationship and fellowship with God and realize know that your destination is to be with the Lord Jesus Christ one day.

The destination that God had in mind for the nation of Israel was the promised land.

And it may have seemed, with God calling Moses home to be with him, that this plan was now in jeopardy.

Sometimes in the changes of life, we can feel that way.

But God reassures Joshua here that the destination is still the same.

You will find too, that this change is just one of many in your life.

But again, God tells Joshua— you are still going to head the same place.

And can I say for the Christian— regardless of this change in your life, this transitional moment, ultimately God’s plan is for you is to live for Him regardless of where you are and one day enter into eternal Home with Him.

Right now is the time of journey— we are passing this world.

But thirdly, about changes in life, please be know this,

C. Everything Does Not Have To Change

Sometimes it is when young people finally strike out on their own and they realize that they can now make all of their own choices—- they may get the idea that there is no accountability.

Can I tell you— you are still accountable to Almighty God!

Romans 14:12 tells us, “12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

In the home, many times, your parents and loved ones spoke on your behalf— made decisions for you. Perhaps protected you from a great many things.

And while you are in the home, that is how it should be. Your family has had the great task of raising you in the nuture and admonition of the Lord.

But just the same now the fact is that the Lord’s expectation of you is to be a Christian of Character—- today— tomorrow and for all the days head of you regardless of where the Lord brings you.

Joshua, was given a charge here by God —to continue to walk in His ways—

Look with me at verse 7, the Lord says, “turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”

There are certain things that ought to remain the same in your lives…

Keep Reading Your Bible

Keep Testifying of the Lord

Keep Living As A Light In This World

Keep Speaking to the Lord in Prayer

Secondly, I please do note this, there are:

II. Challenges To Face

Now surely, I would not be giving you wise counsel if I did not tell you, that there are challenges you will face.

Joshua was given the high and holy privilege to lead the entire nation into the land that God had promised Abraham!

And can I tell you that God has a wonderful plan for you as well.

One of my favorite Bible verses in all of the world is found in Ephesians 2.

Now we love Ephesians 2:8–9 which speak of our salvation, it states, “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Again, I pray it is that you have trusted in Christ as your Savior.

We are saved by our own words, but by God’s grace through faith.

Our faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross of Calvary.

He lived a sinless life, He died of the cross paying our sin debt and a perfect sinless Son of God— and then He was buried and three days later He rose again from the grace victorious. And gues what He is alive forevermore.

This is the gospel message, not just that Christ died, but that He died for me.

But the very next verse in Ephesians 2:10 says, “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Can I assure you that God has something special for you to do?

God has works for you to accomplish.

And that verse tells us these works God has set aside for us to accomplish!

Joshua too had a task in front of him and there were challenges to face.

In verse 5, we kind of get the understanding of what lie ahead.

Joshua 1:5 “5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

You see though the Lord had given the nation of Israel the promised land, they would have to fight for every inch of the promised land they would take.

The next 23 chapters, tell both of the successes and failures of the nation as a whole.

Oftentimes, the book of Joshua is called the book of conquest— because they were to take the land God gave them.

And might I say to you tonight, there will be success and failures.

The important thing for you to do is to keep moving forward with the task God gives you.

When you fail, and when you struggle—- turn to the Lord.

Seek His face.

If you will take time and read this book of the Bible, you will see when the nation relied upon the Lord, they had great success. When they did not, they experienced great failure.

But thirdly, would you take heart in this, there is

III. Courage From The Lord

God says to Moses in verse 6,

Joshua 1:6 “6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.”

Now the Lord knows the beginning from the end.

He knows that Joshua is going to divide the land for an inheritance to the people.

But yet, three times in this passage, the Lord tells Joshua these wonderful words, Be Strong and Of A Good Courage.

The path God has for you to walk will take two things, it will tae courage from the Lord and strength from the Lord.

Both come from the Lord!

My prayer for you this evening is simply this, that above all else, you be strong and courageous— not just for mom and dad…. not just for your family… or even your church family….

But my prayer is you will be strong and courageous for the Lord Jesus Christ!

2 Timothy 2:2–4 “2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Courage from the Lord will come from His Word and spending time with Him

Courage also from the Lord will come from being plugged into a local church.

Paul describes in Acts 28:15 how He took courage when He saw the brethren.

I will tell you that being a part of a local church is not optional to live the Christian life.

If you want to succeed in the eyes of the Lord, it will only take place, if you are actively involved in the church family.

IV. Counsel For Success

Now every one of us want to be successful. I do not know of anyone who wakes up in the morning and says this— I just can’t wait to fail today.

If you want to be successful— God gives us this formula.

Look at it with me in verse 8.

Now here the blessing about this formula— it is not bound by geography.

What I mean by that— is as long as Joshua followed this formula— the Bible says He would experience great success.

Joshua 1:8 “8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

There are two results and two conditions given in this statement.

Joshua could mark it down that if He followed this guidance he would

Be prosperous in the Lord.

He would experience success in the Lord.

Do you want to have a successful life? A successful family? A successful career? Successful relationships with others?

Then we must look at what the Lord tells Joshua here.

What are the two conditions?

That He would know and consider this book.

That He would live according to this book.

You might be thinking, Pastor, I though Joshua was going into a place where He would have to make war against the inhabitants of this land?

And you are absolutely right…

You might be thinking I am going off to school somewhere — or I am going to take up a trade—- is this a manual for these things?

Well I will tell you, the Lord has a way of carrying us through when we follow Him.

Oh Joshua and the nation came upon a great walled city. The name of the place was Jericho—- and do you know what against the wisdom of the world, the Lord gave Him instructions on how to take the city.

He said you march around that city— every day for seven days… and one the seventh day you go around it seven times.

And at the very end they blow the trumpets and shout and the city will be yours.

Now pretty strange instructions— not really the battle tactics you might consider when trying to take a city by force.

But can I tell you — as they obeyed the Lord, God opened an entrance to them.

And can I say to you tonight, if you will but follow this book— if you will walk according to His ways— God will help you as well.

Now you have to apply yourself. You cannot forsake the hard work and then expect God to bail you out.

But I promise you this, if you will follow the Lord, you will experience and live the very best life that God has for you to live.

You see this all depended upon the one who promised.

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.”

Let’s Pray