Untitled Sermon (13)

3 Areas that I have found in this passage:

Transition

The book of Joshua is the transition from Moses to Joshua.

From one leader to the next.

Everyone in here will undergo transition at some point in your ministry.

Often we think of transition as to where we are going. The next position or the next role that God will use us in.

However, the other side of transition is how you leave the role that you are in. Someone is going to have to step into the role that you left for them.

Look at Numbers 20 vs. 12-13

God speaks to Moses and Aaron and tells them that they will lead the children of Israel into the promised land.

After 40 years of Moses leading a stiff-necked people through the wilderness…seeing miracle after miracle, and now Moses is told that there is limitation being placed upon his ministry.

2 things that I find fascinating about Moses leadership AFTER God tells him that he won’t lead the congregation into the promise land.

11 months, and 200 miles later…after telling Moses that he wouldn’t be able to enter into the promise land, God speaks to Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 32 vs. 49-52

Deuteronomy 32:49–52 KJV 1900

49 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: 50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: 51 Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. 52 Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.

In spite of being told that he would not enter into the promised land…Moses continued to lead. He led the people all the way to the Jordan. Even knowing that he wouldn’t be able to step into the promised land, the continued leading.

All that Joshua had to do in vs. 2 is to arise and go over!

2. The second thing that I find incredible from the patriarch in this transition is that in Numbers chapter 20 he finds out that he won’t lead the people into the promised land...

Yet in Number chapter 27:18 God speaks to Moses…Joshua is going to do what you wont be able to do.

Now…lay your hand upon him (bless him)

bring him before the people and charge him in their site…(elevate him in the eyes of the people

and put some of your honour (authority upon him).

Its one thing to give someone some of your authority when its delegation so that they can fulfill your vision.

Its another thing when you are giving someone your honor, because its part of a process that will end in them receiving all of your honor...

Yet Moses blessed Joshua.

Not only did Moses bless Joshua…but the very last act of Moses is found in Deuteronomy chapter 33, Moses stood before the people and for 25 verses he blessed the very people that were the reason he would not be walking into the promised land.

He blessed a future that he knew he wouldn’t be able to partake of!

The second part of the transition equation is Joshua.

Long before Joshua is called to succeed Moses, he was called the servant of Moses.

You can’t faithfully succeed what you haven’t served!

The ministry that is stepping into the transition should compliment the ministry of the man stepping out of the transition.

Moses ministry and Joshua’s were very different, but they complimentary of one another.

Moses led diplomatically. He sat and judged the people patiently as they grumbled through long years in the desert. By the time the reached Canaan, fierce enemies awaited and they needed a much more confrontational leader, a military man skilled in war. Enter Joshua.

Solomon/David

Elisha/Elijah

Joshua continued Moses ministry

The second point that I see brought out in Joshua chapter 1…there are 3 commissions that are necessary in the establishing of a ministry.

God commission

Joshua 1:6, Joshua 1:7, Joshua 1:9

2. The commission of Moses. Deuteronomy 31:6-7

The commission of the Man of God in our life.

There are many examples of those that sought to establish a ministry and Make a calling happen without the commission of the man of God in their life.

3. Joshua 1:18

carrying over from vs. 16 And they [the people] said to him…only be strong and of good courage.

We can have the commission of God, and we can have the commission of the man of God, but to be effective in ministry, we must also have the commission of the people.

This does not translate into us seeking to please the people…and in order of priority, this is third…there will be times that you will have to lead people where they don’t want to go.

Times where the word that will be preached or the instruction that is given will not be eagerly received...

But…to be effective in ministry, the commission of the people is necessary.

The last area that I want to look at in Joshua chapter 1, is finding confidence in the call.

After the commission of God, Moses and the people, in vs. 7-8 God issues a command to Moses:

Following the commission, comes God’s command: vs. 7-8

Do according to all the law, which my servant Moses commanded thee.

This book shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate upon it day and night. that you might observe to do according to all that is written therein. Obey the book!

He says your commission is to be a military leader, leading in the conquest of Canaan…but your success will not because of your great military mind…nor because of your skill on the battle field. It will come from your obedience to the Word. When you obey the law....when you meditate on it and do all that is written…

vs. 8 For then thous shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

It is the obedience of the people of God, to the Word of God that brings success. Obedience brings victory.

There are many that have been and are being deceived into believing that we can succeed through the methods of man…that devising new techniques and new pathways, we can succeed…but the fact remains that our success comes when we obey the scriptures.

When Joshua has been commissioned…and Joshua has been commanded, the result is confidence.

vs. 10 - 11

Joshua commanded the officers saying pass through the people and command the people, saying, Prepare ye victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go into possess the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

That is confidence! That wasn’t an uncertain word…it wasn’t an indecisive word…it was a sure word...

Get ready for in three days!

As ministers, when we stand with the commission of God, the man of God and the people of God upon our lives.

And when we obey the Word of the Lord...

there is a confidence that comes that we can declare what thus saith the Lord!

The church needs confident ministry leading it.

We don’t need indecisiveness and uncertainty to be proclaimed…we need a sure word from the Lord that we can move upon!