Joshua 1 the word on success

I)       The Word on Success

A)    File:  Joshua 1 the word on success.doc

B)    Audio:  The Word on Success

C)    Series:  Victory in the Promised Land

D)    Preached:  May 27, 2007.

II)    READ JOSHUA 1:1-9

A)    It’s time to go in…the final preparations.  The appointment of Joshua.  The official commissioning by God.

B)    Therefore, the focus are the various commands: 

1)      “Arise and Go Over,” verse 2.

2)      “Be Strong and Courageous,” verses 6, 7, 9.

3)      “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,” verse 8.

4)      “Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed.” v9.

C)    A lot of commands.  How was Joshua to succeed?  We can find four distinct categories of encouragement God gives to Joshua, and considering these, we can see that if Joshua could remember these things, this would be the key to successfully following God in the conquest of the land.

III) By remembering his position.  Joshua was now to be the man in charge.  The commands are individual to Joshua and he was to lead.

A)    V2:  “Moses is dead, now therefore arise, go over…”

1)      The leadership has transitioned.

2)      Notice the dependence – Moses is dead, now it’s your turn – go take the land that I am giving to them.

B)    Not a shock – mentioned before.  Next in line.

1)      Joshua is assistant:  Ex. 24:13.  Implied Successor?

2)      With Moses during golden calf incident Ex. 32:17

3)      Guarded Moses’ tent, Ex. 33:7-11.

4)      Joshua one of two ‘good’ spies, Num. 13-15.

(a)    He showed faithfulness, courage, and strength here.

C)    Outright appointed as successor, Num. 27:12-23, Dt. 3:32-29, Esp. Dt. 31:3, “The Lord your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the Lord has spoken.”

1)      In that passage:  Dt. 31, something else familiar:  Told to “be strong and courageous”, by Moses, Dt. 31:1-8 and of God Dt. 31:23, not just in Joshua 1.

(a)    These are leadership qualities – an indication of his appointment by God as Moses’ successor.

D)    So God reminds Joshua of His position as the chosen leader of the people by commencing to command him to begin the campaign. 

IV) By remembering God’s power.

A)    From what God says, v2, “into the land that I am giving to them” – a reminder that God is in control – it is His power that will make it happen.

1)      Also v3, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you.” 

(a)    It is already done in God’s perspective. This shows God’s power. 

2)      The land is His to give – He is sovereign.

3)       Joshua will obtain everything he sets his foot on.  The Lord foresees obedience and therefore success in Joshua so He can encourage Him by pointing to His future success. 

B)    Joshua has seen God’s power!  Note all that he saw:  plagues, exodus, murmurings, spied out the land, wanderings, death of 600,000+ unfaithful, battles at the end of the book of Numbers.

C)    Note that he was firstborn (1 Chr. 7:27) and would have been in danger in Egypt.  While it seemed his own life was imperiled, Joshua saw first hand the power of God.

V)    By remembering God’s promises.

A)    v3.  “Just as I promised Moses”  With the many years Joshua spent with Moses, he was privy to the private conversations with God.

B)    Moses would have told him the history, handed down they had promises all the way back to Abraham, and really back to the garden!

VI) By remembering God’s protection.

A)    v5.  READ.  

1)      Like He was with Moses.  Spoken to directly by God - in His presence!

2)      Moses had God’s protection.

(a)    In Pharoah’s court, the murmurings.

VII)          How? 

A)    How to remember His position?  God’s power, promises, protection.  What was that Moses said?  Adventure movie.

B)    How hard it is to remember when in the midst of battle.

C)    How hard it is to remember it is a simulation?  Battle simulations, video games, role playing, etc.  We can ‘forget’ that it is not real, that in fact we cannot be hurt.  The heart rate increases, adrenaline pumps, blood pressure increases.

D)    How was Joshua to keep all these in the foremost position of his mind?

E)     A clue is found in Exodus 17:8-16, verse 14.

F)     Joshua proved himself courageous and skilled in battle defeating Amalek in Exodus 17:8-16.  There Moses is told to write it in a scroll and put it in the ear of Joshua.

G)    The written word – the history is the key!

VIII)       Verse 1:8, READ.

A)    This book of the law:  The first 5 books of the Bible.  Moses wrote all up through Deuteronomy.  1st five often called the books of Moses. However, Joshua or one of the priests likely wrote of Moses’ death.  This, It is clear that this was in written form for Joshua to hold and to have.

B)    Shall not depart from your mouth:  Very oral people.  Vocalization is the key to memorization.  Psalms were chanted.  Language had no vowels because it was never handed down without verbal reinforcement.  We buy our kids Bibles but what God wants is us to speak about the word in all our comings and goings. (Dt. 6)

C)    Meditate on it day and night.  What else is there to talk about?  This is the Dt. 6 reference.

1)      It is clear that God intends for this written Word to become ingrained in Joshua’s mind!

2)      All of Old Testament:  Dt. 6 – teach them to your kids.  Dt. 17:18-19 for kings.

3)      Now look at the intended results:

IX) so that…the purpose of meditation:  that you obey and you can be prosperous and successful. This is what God wants.  Some think the law is bad – that is only because we are rebellious by nature.  God wrote the law so we could know what pleases Him and remain in close relationship with Him to our benefit.  It is always to our benefit to obey God.  This is the simple crux of most Christians’ discontentment – they have not submitted to follow God.  They continue to try to ride with only one foot on, the other is awkwardly hopping to keep up and ultimately causes them to stumble with much injury.

X)    For Us

A)    So it is with us.  Christ is building His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  Whatever we bind…whatever we loose…has been done in heaven.  We are not of this world – we are invincible!  Followers of God, even without the earthly victories, are victors indeed standing in the presence of God holy and blameless.  He will not leave us nor forsake us.  See Heb. 13:5.  We have knowledge of our position, God’s power, protection, promises all in the Word of God – that we can put them in our hearts and take hold of the promises!

B)    Look how important the Word of God is for us:  John 17:17, “Sanctify them in your truth, your word is truth.”  Eph. 5:26

C)    Christ’s commission – make disciples teaching them all the things I have said to you.

D)    Christ’s words the standard for Judgment John 12:48

E)     2 Tim. 3:15 the word makes you wise unto salvation

1)      16 – God-breathed and useful

2)      1 Peter 1:23  “since you have been born again…through the living and abiding word of God.”

F)     Personally:  Pastor/Teachers for equipping the Saints…Eph 4:12.

G)    You cannot escape the importance of the Word:  Salvation, knowing we are saved, living right, leading others to Christ, it is absolutely central to the life of a Christ.

XI) Invitation

A)    If you don’t feel like you are conquering the Promised land…

B)    If you don’t even feel like you know God personally.

C)     

XII)          Four P’s

A)    New Testament references for each

XIII)       Overall importance of the Word for us / Application

A)    For Me, “feed my sheep”  “Man cannot live on bread alone…I am the bread of life…living water…the Word was God

XIV)       Look at what Joshua is about to undertake:

A)    God commands Him to arise and go – v2.  Imperatives.

B)    God commands Him to be strong and courageous – v6.  Also imperatives.

1)      Repeated in verse 7.

2)       

C)    Conquering Canaan.  Armies, fortified cities, giant people.

D)    What would God say to encourage.  What last-minute advice?  Strategy?  Tactics?  Philosophy?  Armory?  Special weapons?  Magical attacks or defenses?  Detailed intelligence?  Topographical maps?

E)     No.  The Pentateuch – the first 5 books of the Bible – written down by Moses.  Why this?

XV)          Notes:

A)    “Whatever you hands find to do, do it with your might.” Eccl. 9:10.  “Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord, not for men.”  Col. 3:23.Key Verse:  Joshua 1:8

B)    Do all the encouragements listed go back to God’s Word?

1)      Find each encouragement in the Pentateuch.  There is a history, a direct quote, or an allusion to everything God is telling Him right now.  This is why God is telling Him this in verse 8, the central verse.

2)      v3, “Just as I promised to Moses.”

3)      v4, the borders, as given to Abraham.

4)      v5, no man…, Dt. 7:24

5)      v5, Just as…, v17, Ex. 3:12, and narratives of all the stories with Moses.  Ex. 3.  Note how God gave Moses the signs, the plans, the support in Aaron.  This is what Joshua can expect.

6)      v5, “I will not leave you…” Genesis 28:15, Jacob. Dt. 31:6,8.

7)      v6, Be strong and courageous:  Words of Moses from Dt. 31:1-8 and of God Dt. 31:23.  Again v7, 9, 18.

8)      v6, for you shall cause…Dt. 3:28.

9)      v6, that I swore to their fathers…all the accounts of the promises to the fathers are in the book!

10)  v7, the law that Moses…all in the book!

11)  v7, Do not turn…that you may have success.  Blessings and curses all outlined – the law records the penalties for failing to observe all that is commanded.  Reading the law will remind him that it is all conditional.

12)  VERSE 8 – the central verse!

(a)     

(b)   Note – Ex. 17:8-16, the battle vs. Amalek – Moses was told to write it down and give to Joshua as a reminder.

XVI)       Application

A)    Our key to success as a church and as individuals –

1)      See Canaan as symbolic not of heaven but of “God’s challenge to us to walk in His perfect will.” (Wilmington’s)

2)      Therefore, God’s Word is the key to be strong and courageous.  Obedience equals victory

B)    Look how consistent with New Testament teachings:

1)      …..

C)    Look how consistent with great achievers of the past.

1)      …..

D)    Our success will be a measure of our mastery of the Word.

1)      Our proclamation of it.

2)      Our personal consumption of it.

(a)    Which determines our level of sanctification.

E)     If we immerse ourselves in it and flood our community with it, we will indeed be walking in God’s perfect will and we will see Him do great things!

F)     Handy Cross-refs:

1)       

2)      1 Tim 2:3-4, soldiers not entangled in civilian affairs

3)      Dt. 11:21 – What God wants for the people. “that your days may be multiplied…[forever]”

4)      Eph. 1:3 – What God wants for His church.

5)      1 Thess. 5:12-13, respect for leadership.

G)    Quotes:

1)      In his farewell speech to the American Congress, April 19, 1951, General Douglas MacArthur said, “In war there is no substitute for victory.”[1]

2)      Charles Spurgeon – 135 books, edited 28, said “The quarry of the Holy Scripture is inexhaustible; I seem hardly to have begun to labor in it; but the selection of the next block, and the consideration as to how to work it into form, are matters not so easy as some think.”

3)      John Quincy Adams, read once a year.  Every morning about an hour, “seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day.”

4)      Tertullian – much learned by heart, even punctuations.

5)      Theodosius the Younger could repeat any part of the Scripture exactly.

6)      Origen never went to sleep or meals without some to read.

7)      Eusebius, Christian historian, heard of one man whose eyes were burned out under Diocletian persecution, repeat from memory the Scriptures in a large assembly.

8)      Beza could repeat all Paul’s epistles in Greek at age 80.

9)      Seven Wonders of the Word:

(a)    1. The wonder of its formation—the way in which it grew is one of the mysteries of time.

(b)   2. The wonder of its unification—a library of 66 books, yet one book.

(c)    3. The wonder of its age—most ancient of all books.

(d)   4. The wonder of its sale—best-seller of all time and of any other book.

(e)    5. The wonder of its interest—only book in the world read by all classes of people.

(f)    6. The wonder of its language—written largely by uneducated men, yet the best book from a literary standpoint.

(g)   7. The wonder of its preservation—the most hated of all books, yet it continues to exist.

(i)     —Speaker’s Sourcebook[2]

10)   

XVII)    Commentary:

XVIII) Main sources:  “Be Strong” by Wiersbe.

XIX)       v1, The death of Moses:

A)    Wiersbe, “God buries His workers, but His work goes on.”

B)    Moses the focus from Ex. 3 to Dt. 34.  His name appears in Joshua over 50 times!

XX)          v1, Joshua, Moses’ assistant:

A)    Originally Hoshea, “salvation”, now Joshua, “Yahweh (Jehovah) is salvation”

B)    Submits to the “Word of God and the God of the Word” Joshua 1:8, 5:13-15.

C)    Joshua takes his inheritance last, Josh. 19:49-51.

D)    Joshua encouraged by victory against Og, king of Bashan, Dt. 3:21-28.

XXI)       v2, Moses my servant is dead…

A)    He will not leave the people leaderless.  Here he addresses Joshua and gives him two imperatives, “arise, go over”

XXII)    v2, “the land I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.”

A)    The land is a gift.  It would be tempting for the Israelites to think they earned the land especially after the next few years of traveling and warfare.  We should remember that the blessings of God are gifts – there is no way we would have them without Him.

XXIII) v3, “Just as I promised to Moses”  God keeps promises.  This promise is over 400 years old at this point.  About 3000 years old today and He is still keeping it as He regathers Israel “for the second time,” Isa. 11:11.

A)    Did He promise Moses that he would go into the land and then turn back on His promise?  No.  Entering the land was always conditional for the people, including Moses.  God disciplined Moses – a seeming tragedy for Moses but probably extremely instructive for Joshua, his assistant.

XXIV) v4.  God’s plan.  Notice how God has it worked out.  He knows the boundaries of the land.  A reminder that He is the one with the plan.  If the Israelites should get proud and go up against
Syria, deciding they are on a roll, they would be out of God’s will.  He has boundaries on His plan.

A)    .

XXV)    v6.  Be Strong and Courageous, the first of four times in this chapter:  6, 7, 9, 18. 

A)    Words of Moses from Dt. 31:1-8 and of God Dt. 31:23.

1)      v6, for you shall cause…Dt. 3:28.

2)      v6, that I swore to their fathers…all the accounts of the promises to the fathers are in the book!

XXVI) v7, the law that Moses…all in the book!

A)    v7, Do not turn…that you may have success.  Blessings and curses all outlined – the law records the penalties for failing to observe all that is commanded.  Reading the law will remind him that it is all conditional.

XXVII)                      VERSE 8 – the central verse!

A)    This book of the law:  The first 5 books of the Bible.  Moses wrote all up through Deuteronomy.  1st five often called the books of Moses. However, Joshua or one of the priests likely wrote of Moses’ death.  It is clear that this was in written form for Joshua to hold and to have.

B)    Shall not depart from your mouth:  Very oral people.  Vocalization is the key to memorization.  Psalms were chanted.  Language had no vowels because it was never handed down without verbal reinforcement.  We but our kids Bibles but what God wants is us to speak about the word in all our comings and goings. (Dt. 6)

1)      Meditate on it day and night.  What else is there to talk about?  This is the Dt. 6 reference.

C)    so that…the purpose of meditation:  that you obey and you can be prosperous and successful. This is what God wants.  Some think the law is bad – that is only because we are rebellious by nature.  God wrote the law so we could know what pleases Him and remain in close relationship with Him to our benefit.  It is always to our benefit to obey God.  This is the simple crux of most Christians’ discontentment – they have not submitted to follow God.  They continue to try to ride with only one foot on, the other is awkwardly hopping to keep up and ultimately causes them to stumble with much injury.

D)    success:  Word Study

E)     prosperous:  Word Study

F)      

XXVIII)                   v9.  Have I not commanded you?  Yes he had (Dt. 31:1-8, Dt. 31:23.) 

A)    How often the Lord needs to remind us.  ‘Why doesn’t God just show Himself?  Why not just tell us exactly what He wants?’  Some will complain.  He has!  It is in His word.  How often must He remind us?  Praise God that He is willing to repeat what we need to hear.  How patient!

B)    Word study frightened

C)    Word study dismayed

D)    Do not be frightened…Dt. 1:29, 7:21, 20:3, 31:6, 8; 

E)     “for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  One of the most comforting statements in the Bible.  Also found in Hebrews 13:5. 

May 27, 2007:  The Word on Success.

Sermon Series:  Victory in the Promised Land.  Learning how to live the victorious Christian life.

A. Joshua would be successful by remembering…

1.      His __________________________.                                          (Ex. 24:13, 32:17, 33:7-11, Num. 27:12-13, Dt. 3:32-39, 31:3, 31:23;)

2.      God’s ________________________.                                         (Ex. 7-14;)

3.      God’s ________________________.                                         (Genesis 12, 15, 17, 22, 49-40; Ex.; Dt. 11, 28-30;)

4.      God’s ________________________.[3]                                        (Ex. 3:12; Gen. 28:15; Dt. 31:1-8;)

B. So how is Joshua to remember all these things?

Joshua 1:8 (ESV) “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.”

Victory in the Promised Land, LESSON #4:  Obedience to the Word of God is the key to success in any campaign!

Joshua 1:7-8 Word Find

Joshua 1:7-8 (ESV): 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.

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[1]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996, c1993), Jos 1:1.

[2]Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers (Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979).

[3] 1) position; 2) power; 3) protection; 4) promises;