Success and Prosperity by being strong, courageous and obedient

How many of you like to be successful?

I believe most people in life want to be successful at something in life. Many people measure their success in the size of their home, boat, car. One guy I worked with wanted to know why we don’t measure success by the size of our clothes.

Today, I would like to see what God’s word says about success.

If you would turn in your Bibles to Joshua chapter 1

Many people strive to gain education to become successful.

Some try to network with the right people to become successful.

Many churches study trends, do surveys in order to be successful.

Nothing is wrong with any of these things, but let’s look at what God’s word has to say.

If you are able, would you please stand as we read from

English Standard Version Chapter 1

God Commissions Joshua

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. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 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. 5 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. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 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. 8 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. 9 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.”

Please be seated as we pray.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your word for us to learn from. I ask that you would allow me to speak what needs to be spoken and prevent me from saying anything that shouldn’t be said. I ask that the Holy Spirit would do the teaching and that you would be glorified. I pray that if there is one here that doesn’t know you as their Lord and Savior that you would draw them to you. I ask that the Holy Spirit would challenge those believers who are here tonight and we would all leave being encouraged. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

The book of Joshua begins after Moses has passed away and God, Yahweh is giving instructions to Joshua as the Israelites are getting ready to enter the promised land.

In order to be successful, Joshua is given certain commands to follow.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

God Commissions Joshua

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.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

God Commissions Joshua

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. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 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.

Yahweh has laid the boundary’s for the land that He tells Joshua in verse 2 that he was going to GIVE them.

Verse 3 He reemphasizes that He will be the one that is GIVING the land to them.

Verse 5 He continues promising Joshua what was ahead of them and how it was going to take place.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

5 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.

Joshua had just witnessed God taking care of Moses for 40 years in the wilderness. God was giving the same promise to Joshua.

-No one can stand against you as long as you live

-I will be with you like I was with Moses

-I will not leave you or forsake you

After giving Joshua the promise, He now challenges Joshua.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 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.

God places the burden of victory solely on Joshua in verse 6

-you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

Verse 6 begins with the words “Be strong and courageous”. God uses this phrase in verse 6, 7 and 9.

Hey Joshua, this all seems a bit intimidating, but hold on “be strong and courageous!

We were at Kneoble’s Amusement park the other day and Emily wanted to ride the kiddie coaster “In the very back seat”. I watched as she climbed in the back seat and another woman sat beside her. After their ride, Emily came running out the exit to get back in line to ride again. shortly after that the woman came out the exit and said that she knew she was in good hands when Emily put her hand on the ladies leg and told her “it’s going to be ok, just be brave”.

I believe Joshua would probably have been a bit more intimidated by the task that God was assigning him that Emily’s new friend was riding the kiddie roller coaster. However, God was giving Joshua all the encouragement that he could.

Joshua was the leader of the Israelites and not only did God command him to be strong and courageous, God also commanded Joshua to “be careful to do according to all the law that Moses commanded him to do.

In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses explained to Joshua what was necessary to lead the people of Israel. He repeated many things to Joseph throughout the book to make sure Joshua and the people remembered.

Obviously the promised land had other people living in the land that would need to be conquered. What military strategy did God give to Joshua? Don’t turn away from the laws of Moses. Not to the right, not to the left. If you do this you will have great success wherever you go.

God wasn’t giving military strategy, because back in verses 2 and 3 He already promised that He would be the one giving the land to the Israelites fulfilling the promise to Moses and their forefathers.

He continues His command with verse 8

English Standard Version Chapter 1

8 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. 9

This was not a command to the people of Israel, this was a command specifically to Joshua. Is it a good command for us to follow? Absolutely!

Unfortunately at that time there were not printing presses, Dollar tree had not been established where you could purchase a bible for only $1. So mostly only the priests and Moses would have been the ones who really had any access to the book of the Law at that time.

He was commanding Joshua to dwell with the message of the book. It should always be on his lips, he needed to be meditating on it day and night so that he would be able to be careful to do what it commanded.

This is the recipe for being prosperous and successful. Nothing else, only obedience.

He reassures Joshua again in verse 9 to be strong and courageous.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

9 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.”

A huge task was given to Joshua.

The task was huge, but God continues to encourage Joshua that He would handle all of it. No matter what, God was going to be right by his side where ever he went.

It was going to take a miracle to accomplish what God had assigned Joshua, but the only task that God commanded him with was in verse 7.

-Be strong and courageous

-Be strong and courageous

-HAVE FAITH

-Do what Moses commanded you in the Law

-BE OBEDIENT

In verse 8 He gives Joshua a little bit clearer instructions about how to do what the Law commanded.

What task has God given you?

Are you scared?

You can trust Him.

He will be with you.

Be strong and courageous.

Be obedient.

If you do, He promises that you will prosper and be successful. It may not be what the world would call prosperity or success, but it will be what your Creator knows is a blessing to you.

“In church today we feel like we need to receive a special call from God to go. He has already commanded all of us to go. So, if anything, we must receive a call if we are going to stay.”

- Scott Phillips DAO tribe Indonisia