05-00-01 - Senior Recognition Night - Josh 1_1 - Nsb
How many of you have heard of Joshua in the Bible?
He fought the battle of Jericho
The walls came tumbling down
Well, you may also recall that he was Moses’ assistant
And that he was one of the twelve spies that was sent into Canaan to spy out the land
The New Testament equivalent to his name is Jesus
Joshua was a great warrior and a leader who prayed and trusted God.
Let’s read
(Josh 1:1 KJV) 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,
(Josh 1:2 KJV) 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.
It was commencement day for Joshua.
A commencement is not only a graduation ceremony where degrees or diplomas are conferred but it is also an act or process of beginning something.
You are finishing one phase in your life but you are starting a new phase.
You are commencing to do something new.
So, I want to talk about your commencement in light of Joshua’s commencement.
Because you guys have some things in common with Joshua.
The first thing I want you to notice is that God had a plan for Joshua’s life.
And God spoke to Joshua
Notice that Joshua was in good standing with GOD so that he heard when God spoke.
‘Joshua, get up! Take these people, go over Jordan, and get that land!’
God has a plan for your life as well.
Now…
It is not always easy to know what the plan is.
Joshua did not always know.
When Joshua was born into a slave family in Egypt
His future seemed to lie in being a slave
He was born to a family who had been enslaved for over three hundred years.
His circumstances made it seem as if Joshua would be a slave.
But, God had another plan for Joshua
I don’t know what all of your circumstances are but don’t think that they limit God – THEY DO NOT!
Because, one night, as we read in Exodus 12 Joshua was delivered from slavery and death.
He was delivered by the blood of a lamb.
Even though it may not seem clear to some of you, God has a plan for you.
You may not know if you are going to school
or if you are going to work
or if you are going to the moon.
But God knows and if you will stay close to Him as you plan your way, He will direct your steps.
Well, how do we stay close?
This is good for the whole church, not just the seniors
#1 - Study the Bible
#2 - Pray to The Lord
God has a plan for each of you, individually.
You will be stepping into roles that are now filled by leaders in God’s work.
God’s instruments change but His plan continues on.
The baton is being passed to Joshua
(Josh 1:3 KJV) Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
(Josh 1:4 KJV) 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.
(Josh 1:5 KJV) 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.
I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Another way of expressing it is that God will not leave you in the lurch.
Listen, as you move forward, you can count on the promises of God, just like Joshua did.
What promise did Joshua have?
Joshua had the promise of God’s presence.
So do we.
We talk about His omnipresence – and that is true
We also need to talk about His personal presence – With each of you individually.
In Hebrews 13:5 He said He would never leave you or forsake you.
That is the key -
Understanding God’s presence in your life can make all the difference in your perspective.
You will have some “down days.”
Joshua had some down days.
At a place called Ai, his leadership almost unraveled.
But God’s promise is not changed, distorted, altered, tainted or done away with because of “down days.”
In the book that Darlene and I gave you, we have written these words:
His love is constant and unconditional
His promises never fail
His presence is never removed
Look at verse 6
Three times in the next four verses we will see God tell Joshua to be strong.
What a message we need today
Be strong church
Be strong Christians
Be strong seniors
(Josh 1:6 KJV) 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.
Joshua, I have made some promises to your fathers.
Be of good cheer, I make good on my promises.
Seniors, God has made some promises to you as His children.
Know this - God makes good on His promises.
(Josh 1:7 KJV) 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.
Now…
Look at verse eight – Israel had a book
Only a fraction of what we have today but oh so important.
As Joshua stood on the threshold of a gigantic task, God warned him to keep close to the words of that book. Joshua did and God honored him for it.
You are entering what I believe to be a high-failure time for Christians.
Many seniors will drift away from worshipping the God they claim to serve.
Some of you will be going to church less and less as your freedom and responsibilities become greater and greater.
Been there – Done that.
And the reason will be that you did not hold close the words of this book.
(Josh 1:8 KJV) 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.
Now this part is for the whole church.
Here is the secret to your success for the rest of your life. (Bible)
It was the secret to Joshua’s success.
It’s where you find salvation
It’s where you find God’s will
It’s where you find God’s guidance.
(Josh 1:9 KJV) 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.
When Joshua was a young slave boy he probably never imagined that he would be the leader of God’s people one-day.
He never imagined that he would reach such a position.
I believe God has a plan for your life, far beyond what you think you can attain.
I know
He has promises for all your needs
And I know
His Word will be a sure foundation for your life
“…for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest…”
What an encouragement for Joshua and what an encouragement it should be for us.
This is a great time for you to surrender to the will of God and commit yourselves to His service.
To begin letting Christ live through you.
Parents, friends, these young people are going to need your prayers.
Let’s start tonight
Studies in Joshua chapter one
Halley
Joshua the man
Of the tribe of Ephraim (Num 13.8)
(Num 13:8 KJV) Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.
The Grecianized form of his name was, “Jesus.”
A personal attendant of Moses
With Moses on the Mount (Ex. 24.13)
(Exo 24:13 KJV) And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
One of the twelve spies (Num 13.6,16)
(Num 13:16 KJV) These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
Thought to have spent about six years subduing the land and the rest of his years, settling and governing the twelve tribes.
He ruled for about 25 years and lived to be 110.
He was a great warrior and leader who prayed and trusted God.
Nelson’s Book of maps and charts
Joshua is the first of the historical books (Joshua through Esther).
They cover about seven hundred years.
The theme of Joshua is the capture and settlement of the Promised Land.
The book of Joshua forges a link between the Pentateuch and the rest of the history of Israel.
What the people learned under Joshua’s leadership was that victory comes from faith in God and obedience to His Word.
There was an air of expectancy in the camp east of the Jordan as Joshua was on the verge of taking God’s people into the Promised Land.
Eager to go into their new lives
Eager to get started
Eager to commence commencing
The first city they needed to take, strategically was Jericho. And God had placed a helper in that city. Her name was Rahab. Even now, God is putting people in places where they will be able to help you as the next few years come and go.