Joshua 1:6-9

Introduction:

Review God’s Kingdom Mission

Joshua 1:1-5

Joshua has assumed a monumental role in Israel’s history. This role is the one through whom God will continue his kingdom mission. This role is the one through whom God will keep his covenant. In order for this to continue though, Joshua must be something in a way that he has not had to be in the past.

New roles have a way of requiring from us or exposing in us new character qualities. It is as if the new role forces us to either respond or shut down. Will we step up to the challenge or back down?

The story of shepherd boy David could be one where the new circumstances required a certain quality that had not been required of him before. When David stood before Goliath, he could certainly recall the story of killing the lion and the bear, but this was still a circumstance that required something more than even those accounts. In the killing of a lion/bear there was not a nation depending on him for victory.

Such is the case with Joshua. What he must be in this moment is different. Moses is gone. What is it that he must be? Three times the passage answers this! Be strong and very courageous!

This is instructive for all kinds of leaders, but it is also instructive for all of God’s people. The coming of the greater Joshua, Jesus Christ, has actually ushered in the Kingdom Mission of God, and remember that God’s kingdom mission is not about a piece of physical land; but God is on mission for souls. Jesus Christ came preaching the gospel of the kingdom to the lost. Jesus came, and He saves those who turn from sin and confess Jesus as Lord.

But his first coming was not the end, it was the beginning of the end. Because it is the beginning of the end, Jesus has left his people on earth to be a people who are on mission, and this mission requires new character qualities. God’s Kingdom mission requires boldness. It requires today nothing less than what Joshua needed - be strong and very courageous.

There are reasons by you and I may try to avoid this command. Some may feel inadequate for God’s Kingdom mission. Others may actually miss this because they confuse boldness with a sort of brashness. Yet others see no need for obedience to this command because they don’t see themselves as part of any kind of mission.

While we are quick to be bold for many things, we are somewhat reserved about God’s mission.

It has been tremendously refreshing to see so many of our church family minister the gospel in personal testimony, in mail carrier bags, in Zoom Bible studies…etc. These are all wonderful activities, and I would submit that the new circumstance has certainly required of us something of a new quality.

Point/Prop:

(1) Be strong for responsibility (v. 6)

(2) Be strong for prosperity (v. 7-8)

(3) Be strong for conformity (v. 9)

Points/Body:

Conclusion: