Firmly Rooted in the Word
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· 5 viewsHow can we develop courage when challenging times come?
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Introduction:
Today is the first Sunday of the New Year. As the New Year begins, this is a good time to pause and reflect on what should be our main priorities this upcoming year. Last week, we introduced our theme: “Firmly Rooted”. No matter what happens we want to be firmly rooted in the gospel, the word, and the church.
I don’t know what challenges we will face in the new year. I mentioned we had many challenges in 2017, and I don’t what challenges will come in 2018.
Personal Challenges
There may be personal challenges. Some of us may experience challenges in our family life or our work life. There may be unexpected transitions in your job. There may be unexpected deaths or sicknesses, as we just recently prayed for the passing of one of our member’s mother.
Church Challenges
There may be challenges in the church. We may have to deal with specific sin, challenges dealing with people, challenges in leadership, challenges dealing with finances. Will we be ok as a church next year? Spiritually? Financially?
Cultural Challenges
There may be challenges in the culture. Whether it be the aggressive sexual revolution we are dealing with, the legalization of marijuana, the fight against pornography, the fight against abortion, the rapid changes in technology, or just the battle to maintain Christian integrity in our world.
Political Challenges
Then there are political challenges. Just two days after the New Year, President Donald Trump responded on Twitter to a New Year’s address delivered by North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un. The North Korean leader informed his people that a nuclear launch button was “always on the desk on my office” warning the U.S. of its nuclear missile capabilities. Trump responded with inflammatory speech saying, “Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger and more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”
It is easy to be anxious and fearful in the midst such uncertainty. But one thing I am certain of is that our God does not change and will remain faithful to us as we look to Him and trust Him.
As the transition into the New Year, I chose as our text this morning because it is a call to not only be firmly rooted in the Word, but a call to courage. There was a change in leadership because Moses had just died, the Israelites were on the brink of entering the promised land, and their entrance into the promised land would take courage to obey.
They needed to be reminded that God would remain true to his promises and remain faithful as they would enter the Promise Land.
Main Proposition: In , as God instructs Joshua to be courageous; we are too reminded of the need to be courageous in challenging times by being firmly rooted in the Word.
Question: How can we develop courage in challenging times?
I. Realize our Calling (vv. 1-4)
I. Realize our Calling (vv. 1-4)
II. Step out in Courage (vv.5-6)
II. Step out in Courage (vv.5-6)
III. Cling to God’s Word (vv. 7-8)
III. Cling to God’s Word (vv. 7-8)
IV. Receive Comfort from God’s Promises (v. 9)
IV. Receive Comfort from God’s Promises (v. 9)
Scripture Reading:
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “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. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 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. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
If we are going to develop courage in the midst of challenging times, we need to embrace our calling.
I. Embrace Your Calling (vv. 1-4)
I. Embrace Your Calling (vv. 1-4)
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “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.
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant,
Joshua picks up where Deuteronomy left off with death of Moses. Moses is identified as the servant of the LORD, which refers to his high rank and close relationship with the Lord.
Moses was a great leader wasn’t he? He delivered the people as God’s mediator from the land of slavery. He led them to cross the Red Sea. He went up to the mountain to receive the Law of God not once, but twice because the people were worshipping a golden calf. He put up with the unbelief and grumblings of the people of Israel for 40 years. Moses would not be able to enter the promise land because of his outburst of anger in the Wilderness when he struck the rock, however, he was a great leader:
And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Deuteronomy 34
Deuteronomy 34:
And now the scene turns to Joshua, Moses Assistant. Joshua, means “The Lord Saves.” In fact, the Greek translation of Joshua is Jesus. Joshua was a humble servant of God. He helped fight the Amalekites in . He spied out the land and was not unbelieving like the rest of the spies, but followed the Lord with his whole heart. He watched as Moses ascended up into the mountain to receive the Law. He was there when Moses descended the Mountain broke the Tablets because of the golden calf. He assisted Moses near the Tabernacle. Keep in mind that Joshua was also with Moses in the Wilderness. He must have had decades of experience before God called Him to lead the people into the Promised land.
God often prepares His servants in the background before public service.
Moses was a shepherd. David was a Shepherd. Jesus was a carpenter before they entered public service. God often prepares leaders in the shadows by simple faithful and obedience before calling them to great tasks of leadership.
What was Joshua’s calling? To conquer the Promised Land
“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. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.
Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan (COMMAND), you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them. The land was already given to God’s people as a gift, and the people were to receive it by faith and walk in obedience.
I can only imagine what Joshua may have experienced. To live in the shadow of Moses for most of his life and now be charged to lead the people. He must have felt fear and anxiety, so God would later remind him that he would be with Him just as He was with Moses.
Christian—If you want to develop courage in challenging times, you need to know your calling. What is your calling? Well, Scripture calls us to salvation through Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us we are called to be Holy (). Scripture also tell us we are to make disciples (). Scripture tells us we are to be witnesses for Christ (). If you don’t embrace your calling as a Christian, you will wander aimlessly through life just as the Israelites wandered aimlessly through the wilderness through unbelief.
Joshua knew he was called to a specific task and purpose. And he needed to embrace his calling in spite of his fear and anxiety.
Non-Christian—If you are not a Christian, you are called to believe in this God. The good promises of God only apply to His people. And you can become part of His people by believing in Jesus Christ and following Him.
Church—Even though we have seen changes in leadership and in the church; I want to remind you that regardless of whoever stands in this pulpit;
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
God is faithful and does not change regardless of who is leading the people. God was still with Israel even though Moses died. He was still with Joshua leading them into the Land. The unchanging character in this Story is God. But God’s great promises to the patriarchs were going to be realized by the faithful obedience of the people.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.
Again, God had promised this land years before to the Patriarchs.
Transition: If we want to develop courage, we need to embrace our calling. Second of all, not only do we need to embrace our calling; we need to be encouraged by God’s presence...
II. Be Encouraged by God’s Promises (vv. 5-6)
II. Be Encouraged by God’s Promises (vv. 5-6)
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
God reassures Joshua that He will be with Him. His presence will be His comfort. And He reassures Joshua that He will be with Him. What a wonderful promise. If you know God is for you, who can be against you. He tells will not leave you nor forsake you.
Have you ever been encouraged by someone’s presence? Maybe you were playing sports as a kid, and when the time comes where people pick players on their team, you had the best baseball player or the best basketball player was playing on your team. It gave you confidence because you knew reliability of that person on your team.
How much more knowing God is on your team. His presence is your encouragement.
And three times, God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous. I think God mentioned this three times because Joshua may have been afraid and fearful. Whom am I to lead this people? What type of people are in the land? How will the people respond? What challenges will we face? The only thing he had to go on was God’s promise.
Yea, the culture is rapidly changing. There is increasing opposition to Christian values. But there is no need to fear because our God is with us.
How much more as NT believers do we know this truth?
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us).
But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
After the Resurrection Jesus said to his disciples:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Author of Hebrews said,
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.” So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
Christian—Christian, we don’t have to fear the challenges in the future if we know the One who holds the future. If we know God is with us and believe that He is working in us and through us, the year ahead will not be one of fear and anxiety, but one of bright hope and confidence if we Trust God. He promised to be with us. Therefore we need to cling to that promise and trust and believe He will be with us.
Joshua needed to be reassured that God would be with Him. And if God was going to be with Him, he would be successful in entering and taking the promised Land.
Transition: Courage develops out of a clear vision of our calling; encouragement from God’s presence; but thirdly, courage comes from obeying God’s commandments...
III. Be Devoted to God’s Word (vv. 6-9)
III. Be Devoted to God’s Word (vv. 6-9)
Notice God didn’t give Joshua military instructions, but he gave him spiritual instructions even if he was going to have success. He didn’t tell him how to develop weapons or give a military strategy, but he told him to meditate on God’s Word.
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 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.
Again, God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous a second time. And he reminds them to be strong because God will not fail on his promises to the patriarchs.
And strength and courage will come from obeying God’s Word: 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 have have good success in wherever you go.
The New American Commentary: Joshua Excursus: The Giving of the Land in Joshua
the keys to success in life lie in being intensely focused upon God and in consistent faithfulness to him and his revealed word
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.
A. Teach It
A. Teach It
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth.
Jesus was the perfect example of this wasn’t he? When Satan tempted him 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy three times. He knew that man does not live by bread alone, but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
The Word must be central in the life of the church if we are going to see success. The Word must continue to be taught and proclaimed.
B. Meditate on It
B. Meditate on It
The Hebrew word “meditate” means to “mutter”. It means that the Word of God should constantly be on their hearts and minds where they are constantly thinking about His Word, talking about His Word, and praying through His Word.
A Bible falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t-Spurgeon
In an age of distraction, we have lost the art of meditation. Meditation is not emptying your mind, but filling your mind with the truths of God’s Word.
It is taking some particular truth of God and applying that particular truth in a specific situation.
What have you been meditating on lately? How has God’s Word affected your life this week at home? At work? At school? As you listen to this sermon?
Christian—Memorize God’s Word. I sometimes go to bed meditating on some truth of Scripture.
Journal. Write on your thoughts in a journal.
Pray through a particular truth that has been affecting you this week.
Share a particular truth that has affected you this week.
Get a good book. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Minding the Heart.
C. Obey It
C. Obey It
So that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.
The purpose of hearing it and meditating it was so that the people of God would obey it. The written revelation of God would be their guide so that they would have success wherever they go.
Success here is not referring to financial success like what the prosperity preachers preach. A successful life in God’s eyes is faithfulness to God. Success means to follow what God’s says. Success biblically means to walk in wisdom and prudence and discernment.
Church—Our success as a church is not going to be measured by increased baptisms, or attendance, or financial health, but our standard of success will always be determined by whether we are faithful to the Word our not. Let us make sure we are evaluating everything in light of that. And if we are faithful in God’s Word, sometimes God does bless the church by adding to it both numerically and financially.
Comfort from God’s Word
Comfort from God’s Word
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
God again reemphasizes his presence with Joshua. And Joshua needed to have faith in God that He would be with Him. Do not be afraid, I am with you wherever you go.
As you continue to read the Book of Joshua, God was with his people.
Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
God came through on his Word and promises.
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Gospel Connection
It is easy to see ourselves as the Joshua in the story. Embrace Your Calling. Be Strong and Courageous. Be Devoted to the Word.
“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.
But if we are honest with ourselves, we are more of like the fearful Israelites who wander, are fearful, and too often neglect the Word.
The Joshua in the story doesn’t point to us and primarily our obedience, but the greater Joshua who is Jesus in the NT.
But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”
And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel.
Joshua 24:19-22
And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
Judges 2:
And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals.
There needed to be a better Joshua because of the rebellion of the people.
Jesus, like Joshua, would be the captain of our salvation. Like Israel, who was exiled from the land because of their disobedience, we too, are exiled from God because of our sin and unbelief.
The Land would be symbolic of peace and rest from enemies, and lives lived under God’s rule.
Adam lost the land because of sin. Israel lost the land because of their unbelief. And we too are under God’s judgment because of our sin and unbelief.
And only Christ, Jesus, Jeshua, the Lord is salvation who has embraced in calling by coming down from heaven, to be one of us, had the courage to embrace his calling by going to a cross for our sins, and by dying and rising again, he has given us a true eternal rest. And He has given us an eternal inheritance if we trust in his finished work, so that we would have peace with God and live our lives under the rule of Christ.
The point of the book is not our faithfulness to God, but God’s faithfulness to His People.
The point of the book is not our faithfulness to God, but God’s faithfulness to His People.
God remained true to his promises to send a Redeemer. And he did. And this Joshua/Jesus remained faithful, courageous, and was completely obedient, even to the point of death, death on a cross.
Jesus was the better Joshua who leads his people into an eternal rest.
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
Hebrews
Jesus was the better Joshua who would embrace His calling and be courageous enough to die for his people as a willing sacrifice.
Jesus was the better Joshua who completely obeyed God’s Word, so that He could be a fitting Savior.
And all the good promises of God find their yes in Christ. God will be faithful to us because He has given us Christ, the better Joshua was was courageous to embrace his calling to and to cling to God’s Word.
His success is our success. Our failure is His failure. And we may prosper spiritually and one day physically because of everything he achieved at the cross.
You see, we can embrace our calling as believers because of what Christ achieved for us at the cross, we can be encouraged by His presence because he has given us His Spirit as a deposit of the future inheritance, and he has given us His Word to continue to guide us and lead us.
Summary
Embrace Your Calling as a follower of Christ.
Be Encouraged by God’s presence. Jesus, Our Emmanuel, is our God with us even to the end of the age.
Be Devoted to His Word. The Word of God incarnate fully obeyed the Written Word so that He can be our sacrifice and example in Devotion to the Word of God.
Conclusion
New year. New challenges. But let us look to our Christ who remains the same yesterday, today, and forever to lead us as we go forward as a church.
Let us know our calling as followers of Christ.
Let us be encouraged by God’s presence in Christ.
Let us be devoted to the written Word as our Christ modeled to us.
If we do these things; For then you will make your way prosperous and have good success wherever you go. Let us continue to be firmly rooted in the incarnate Word and the written Word.