Be Strong & Courageous
Aug 10, 2008
“Be Strong & Courageous” Josh 1:1-9
Here we go on another journey thru God’s most precious Word
& look at what our God tells Joshua about Himself / Joshua / God’s people & concerning God’s most glorious Word
( look with me at ) Joshua 1:1-9
1) now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun .. Moses servant saying
2) Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise cross this Jordan .. you & all this people to the land which I am giving to them to the sons of Israel
3) every place on which the sole of your foot treads I have given to you just as I spoke to Moses
4) from the wilderness & this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites & as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory
5) no man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you I will .. ( what ) .. I will not fail you or forsake you
6) be strong & courageous for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them
7) ( now watch what God tells Joshua ) only be strong & very courageous be careful to do according to ( what ) to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you do not turn from it .. to the right or to the left so that you may have success wherever you go / do we want success ???
( well then what shall we do )
v8 ( listen ) .. this book of the law / God’s Word
1) it shall not depart from your mouth
2) but you shall meditate on it day & night
3) ( why ) .. so that you may be careful to do
according to all that is written in it
4) for then you will make your way prosperous
5) & then .. you will have success
9) have I not commanded you if you note .. God does not make suggestions but rather .. He gives commands / & so He says be strong & courageous do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go today we have the same God .. & the same promise ( He is with us wherever we go )
( PRAYER )
Now I realize that God is speaking to Joshua ( on behalf of the people of Israel ) so they may inherit the land that He has given to them
But we too have a land that is ours / heaven & we too shall also inherit it … so these promises are ours too ( our promises are mostly spiritual promises )
( so what then is our command … the same )
To stay strong / courageous / careful to do all / all .. that is written within these pages whether it be Acts .. Joshua .. whatever we are called to study / know / follow all that is written within each page
( we all need to acquire the heart of Ezra )
( & that is ) Ezra 7:10
for Ezra had .. set his heart to study the law of the Lord & to practice it & to teach His statutes & ordinances in Israel
Today’s church needs the message of Joshua ( & the heart of Ezra ) .. more than ever before because we are living in a day of criticism & defeat & the church / believers are no longer as Solomon once called us
“as pure as the sun .. & as awesome as an army with banners” ( Song of Sol 6:10 )
But rather … we look more like a bunch of dimly lite / prisoners of war who have lost our courage & our strength [1]
Like it or not .. God’s people are expected to be soldiers .. as Paul taught in 2 Tim 2:3-4
3) suffer hardship with me ( note ) as a good soldier of Christ Jesus
4) no soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier
you have been enlisted by none other than J.C.
The Book of Joshua tells us how to be victorious soldier / Christians / believers & how to claim our rich spiritual inheritance all found in Jesus Christ
Joshua will tells us how how to be strong & courageous as we face our enemies & how to march forward to claim new territory for the Lord thru our lives & church [2]
Why embark on this study of Joshua ( it is built upon wars / battles ) but we shall see that a study of Joshua allows us to see that it is also a book of new beginnings for God’s people & many of us today need a new beginning
After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness Israel came upon the land & claimed their inheritance so as to enjoy the blessings of the land that God had prepared for them
As Paul wrote years later ( Eph 1:3 )
“God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings”
but too often .. we as believers in Christ live like we have no blessings at all when .. in fact .. we have been given them all [3]
We might be coming into difficult times & yet we should have all that we need all over the place … why don’t we ?? We do not trust God as we ought & so we find that we are trying to make ends meet
When we should be flourishing & be ready & prepared to take in the people who are lost & going thru though times .. so we can have a place for them to be restored & come to Christ & their kids find a place to worship .. play & learn
Tell me .. when do people most come to Christ in good times or bad ??? of course .. bad times but tell me .. will we be ready for them when they are ready to come ???
Rather we are weak & trembling rather than being strong & courageous ready for the people that God will bring our way ready to lead them to Christ thru their difficulties & hardships
Moses had taught Joshua thruout his life & gave to Joshua … the baton of faith Moses prepared Joshua for coming wars & the coming difficulties but thru it all .. God reminds Joshua over & over again / strength & courage
v5 as God says .. just as I have been with Moses I will be with you I will never fail or forsake you ( & He says the same to us )
v6 ( then He says ) .. be strong & courageous …
v7 ( again saying ) .. only be strong & courageous & be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you ( passed the baton on to you .. so ) do not turn from it to the right or to the left so that you may have success wherever you do
Here in Joshua ( v1 ) Moses died & God gives the mantel to Joshua
having prepared Joshua thru Moses
Joshua was born into slavery in Egypt & was given the name Hoshea ( Num 13:8 ) which means = salvation & Moses later changed his name to Joshua ( v16 ) meaning = Jehovah is salvation
Moses was a great prophet & legislator & Joshua became a great warrior he was a man of great courage who wasn’t afraid to confront God’s enemy because of his trust in the Lord v5 [4]
& we shall discover that the secret of Joshua’s victories / success was not his skill with the sword but his submission to God’s Word v8
this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day & 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 & then you will have success
Want to see what made Joshua so special ( Num 13:25-33 ) when the spies returned to Moses & reported that the land was indeed good … but 10 of the spies discouraged the people by saying that Israel wasn’t strong enough to overcome the enemy in the land
Sadly the people did not listen to Joshua & Caleb which delayed their conquest of the land for 40 years
( thru it all ) Joshua was not blind to the realities of the situation but he didn’t allow the problems & difficulties to rob him of his faith … in God ( note in God .. not in himself )
You see in retrospect the 10 spies looked at God thru their difficulties …
While Joshua & Caleb looked at the difficulties thru their God knowing that He was big enough for the battles that lay ahead of them
Moses encouraged Joshua to trust God & not be afraid .. long ago in Deut 31:1–8 ( look at it .. it is quite familiar ) & imparted to Joshua … the spiritual power he needed for all his tasks / battles ( ie: passing along the baton of faith )
( pass it on )
Like Moses .. Joshua was human & made his share of mistakes
but he was still God’s chosen & anointed leader
this is why the people said to Joshua v17
just as we heeded Moses in all things so we will heed you [5]
The church today could use leaders … & followers … just as faithful
Verses:
Ezra 7:10
Song of Solomon 6:10
2 Tim 2:3-4
Eph 1:3
Deut 31:1-8
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[1]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 1:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 1:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 1:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 1:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 1:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.