WEBVTT 00:00:00.430 --> 00:00:06.269 We are in the Old Testament book of Joshua And 00:00:06.269 --> 00:00:10.609 I know we haven't been in Joshua lately and So 00:00:10.609 --> 00:00:13.130 perhaps it's been a while since you were here. 00:00:13.310 --> 00:00:17.609 I hope that you love Joshua as much as I do Joshua 00:00:17.609 --> 00:00:22.010 chapter 1 we'll look at verses 1 through 9, but 00:00:22.010 --> 00:00:26.530 I Think we might also venture past verse 9 and 00:00:26.530 --> 00:00:29.289 maybe back into Deuteronomy a little bit. No 00:00:29.289 --> 00:00:34.130 promises But what we're gonna see is as I said, 00:00:34.450 --> 00:00:39.789 it's courage Here and you can imagine that as 00:00:39.789 --> 00:00:43.850 Joshua takes over leading God's people after 00:00:43.850 --> 00:00:47.969 Moses dies Yeah, he would need courage, right? 00:00:48.829 --> 00:00:53.509 And so let's look at this Joshua chapter 1 Verses 00:00:53.509 --> 00:00:59.759 1 through 9 After the death of Moses the servant 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:02.159 of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua, the son 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:07.219 of none, Moses's assistant, Moses, my servant 00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:12.359 is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, 00:01:12.620 --> 00:01:15.000 you and all this people into the land that I 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:19.000 am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:21.599 place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, 00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:25.379 I have given to you just as I promised to Moses. 00:01:25.790 --> 00:01:29.030 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, as far 00:01:29.030 --> 00:01:32.310 as the great river, the river Euphrates, all 00:01:32.310 --> 00:01:35.390 the land of the Hittites to the great sea, toward 00:01:35.390 --> 00:01:38.049 the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 00:01:38.930 --> 00:01:41.450 No man shall be able to stand before you all 00:01:41.450 --> 00:01:45.250 the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, 00:01:45.609 --> 00:01:49.810 so I will be with you. I will not leave you or 00:01:49.810 --> 00:01:53.969 forsake you. Be strong and courageous. for you 00:01:53.969 --> 00:01:57.069 shall cause this people to inherit the land that 00:01:57.069 --> 00:02:00.569 I swore to their fathers to give them only be 00:02:00.569 --> 00:02:04.349 strong and very courageous being careful to do 00:02:04.349 --> 00:02:06.890 according to all the law that moses my servant 00:02:06.890 --> 00:02:09.990 commanded you do not turn from it to the right 00:02:09.990 --> 00:02:13.409 hand or to the left that you may have good success 00:02:13.409 --> 00:02:16.650 wherever you go this book of the law shall not 00:02:16.650 --> 00:02:19.569 depart from your mouth but you shall meditate 00:02:19.569 --> 00:02:23.000 on it day and night So that you may be careful 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:26.000 to do according to all that is written in it 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:30.060 For then you will make your way prosperous and 00:02:30.060 --> 00:02:33.979 then you will have good success Have I not commanded 00:02:33.979 --> 00:02:37.699 you be strong and courageous Do not be frightened 00:02:37.699 --> 00:02:41.020 and do not be dismayed for the Lord your God 00:02:41.020 --> 00:02:46.080 is with you wherever you go You've certainly 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:48.750 heard the word courage or courageous, it's in 00:02:48.750 --> 00:02:51.050 there at least three times, right? And we're 00:02:51.050 --> 00:02:53.069 going to see it in some other spots as well. 00:02:53.569 --> 00:02:56.069 But I want to begin this evening with a story 00:02:56.069 --> 00:02:59.629 of extreme courage. And this is especially to 00:02:59.629 --> 00:03:02.150 be heard by our little ones, our children in 00:03:02.150 --> 00:03:05.810 here. For I tell you the story of a young girl 00:03:05.810 --> 00:03:10.110 about 12 years old. Her name was Emily. Emily 00:03:10.110 --> 00:03:12.990 was born to Christian parents, but they were 00:03:12.990 --> 00:03:16.780 missionaries of sorts in Bangladesh. And if you 00:03:16.780 --> 00:03:19.219 know anything about Bangladesh, it's primarily 00:03:19.219 --> 00:03:23.199 a Muslim country. There are also some Hindus 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:27.199 there as well. And so when Emily was about 12 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:31.360 years old, her parents enrolled her in the local 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:35.259 school. And as I said, most of the people there 00:03:35.259 --> 00:03:39.000 are Muslim or Hindu. And she was one of only 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:41.460 two Christian students in the whole school of 00:03:41.460 --> 00:03:45.849 about 600 students. And her first few days there 00:03:45.849 --> 00:03:48.729 didn't go well because people, the students found 00:03:48.729 --> 00:03:50.889 out and some of the teachers that she was a Christian. 00:03:51.889 --> 00:03:54.189 And the students began to pick on her and to 00:03:54.189 --> 00:03:57.750 mock her. And over time, it became worse than 00:03:57.750 --> 00:03:59.990 that and they started to harm her physically 00:03:59.990 --> 00:04:04.210 and she hated school. Emily cried herself to 00:04:04.210 --> 00:04:06.750 sleep at night. She dreaded going back there. 00:04:08.949 --> 00:04:11.870 The students showed no mercy. and the administration 00:04:11.870 --> 00:04:15.169 didn't offer any help. Well, one day her parents 00:04:15.169 --> 00:04:18.410 went to the principal of the school and said, 00:04:19.689 --> 00:04:22.529 can Emily and other Christians in the school 00:04:22.529 --> 00:04:26.329 have Christian holidays off from coming to school 00:04:26.329 --> 00:04:29.689 because Muslims take Friday as their day of rest. 00:04:30.350 --> 00:04:33.569 And to their surprise, the principal said, yes, 00:04:34.069 --> 00:04:38.279 she may have Easter off. school and actually 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:42.439 the principal made the day of Easter a holiday 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:45.259 on the school calendar and so everybody had off 00:04:45.259 --> 00:04:48.899 for it but in return Emily had to do something. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:52.819 Emily had to stand in front of an assembly of 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:56.759 the entire student body and tell everybody what 00:04:56.759 --> 00:05:00.259 Easter was all about. You can imagine a 12 year 00:05:00.259 --> 00:05:04.339 old in front of 600 students And the principal 00:05:04.339 --> 00:05:07.980 and all the teachers getting ready to tell them 00:05:07.980 --> 00:05:10.560 about the resurrection of Jesus when she has 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:15.220 already been reviled for her faith. She was absolutely 00:05:15.220 --> 00:05:19.339 petrified. And yet the more that she thought 00:05:19.339 --> 00:05:21.519 about it and prayed about it, she realized this 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:24.980 was the opportunity that she needed to share 00:05:24.980 --> 00:05:29.620 Jesus with this entire school. And so the day 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:33.620 for her to speak, it was a Sunday. The assembly 00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:36.600 is there, all the students are there, and they 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:40.279 even put up loudspeakers outside onto the busy 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:43.220 street so other people could hear all about Jesus 00:05:43.220 --> 00:05:47.079 and the resurrection. Emily's parents stood outside 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:49.459 and prayed for her. They were just as scared 00:05:49.459 --> 00:05:53.420 as she was. And she walked up to the podium, 00:05:54.060 --> 00:05:57.339 got behind the microphone, and she proceeded 00:05:57.339 --> 00:06:01.100 to tell everybody that could possibly hear her 00:06:01.100 --> 00:06:04.680 voice. all about the teaching of Jesus, all about 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:08.040 the miracles of Jesus, all about the crucifixion 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:11.439 and yes, the resurrection of Jesus. And then 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:13.959 she gave an invitation to all the students, 12 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:18.540 years old, to believe in Jesus. And then she 00:06:18.540 --> 00:06:21.839 walked back to her seat and she waited for the 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:25.680 mocking to return, for the scolding, for the 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:31.800 abuse. And it didn't come. There was no backlash. 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:34.860 The teachers and some of the students actually 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:37.860 asked Emily questions. Two of them requested 00:06:37.860 --> 00:06:40.860 Bibles. Her math teacher attended the Christmas 00:06:40.860 --> 00:06:45.160 service that year and the bullying stopped. Years 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:48.399 later, she said something to the effect of, courage 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:51.139 doesn't come from drumming it up in ourselves. 00:06:51.860 --> 00:06:54.660 She actually pointed to what the apostle Paul 00:06:54.660 --> 00:06:57.740 shows us in the book of Acts where it says, do 00:06:57.740 --> 00:07:01.980 not be afraid. but go on speaking and do not 00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:08.540 be silent." The question for us, though, is how 00:07:08.540 --> 00:07:12.379 can we have the courage of little Emily? But 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:15.019 maybe we need to answer another question first. 00:07:15.259 --> 00:07:20.360 What is courage? Matthew Everhard says, biblical 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:24.019 courage is the confidence that the believer stands 00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:28.519 secure in his or her saving relationship to God. 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:31.839 He experiences the divine power and protection 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:35.139 of God's constant presence, walking faithfully 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:39.139 in love so as to boldly confront all evil and 00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:42.939 injustice, thereby honoring the Lord and seeking 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:48.240 God's glory above all things. Simply put, courage 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:51.560 is fearing the Lord, not cowering in front of 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:55.160 our enemies. To have such courage, we have this 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:58.300 wonderful passage in Joshua. And within this 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:02.300 passage we see four things that we are to remember 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:06.160 God's promises, we are to remember God's power, 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:09.420 we are to remember God's presence, and we are 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:13.100 to remember God's precepts. Let's look at promises 00:08:13.100 --> 00:08:16.500 first, primarily in verses two through four and 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:21.279 verse six. It should come as no surprise that 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:25.470 courage, forms the root of the word encourage. 00:08:25.870 --> 00:08:29.990 And by remembering God's promises, Joshua would 00:08:29.990 --> 00:08:33.649 be encouraged. As I said, you see this phrase 00:08:33.649 --> 00:08:36.889 or something similar to it, be strong and courageous. 00:08:37.009 --> 00:08:40.490 It's there three times within our text. But actually, 00:08:41.289 --> 00:08:44.870 if you go back into Deuteronomy, you see this 00:08:44.870 --> 00:08:47.909 phrase more than just the three times that are 00:08:47.909 --> 00:08:50.350 here. Let me take you to Deuteronomy chapter 00:08:50.350 --> 00:08:56.629 31. verses four through eight. As this is said 00:08:56.629 --> 00:08:59.370 here, Moses is speaking, so Moses is clearly 00:08:59.370 --> 00:09:02.450 still alive, and he's talking to Joshua. He's 00:09:02.450 --> 00:09:05.970 getting Joshua ready to take over. Moses knows 00:09:05.970 --> 00:09:09.509 that he's not going into the promised land. 31 00:09:09.509 --> 00:09:12.909 ,4, and the Lord will do to them as he did to 00:09:12.909 --> 00:09:16.110 Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and 00:09:16.110 --> 00:09:18.720 to their land when he destroyed them. And the 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:21.320 Lord will give them over to you and you shall 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:23.840 do to them according to the whole commandment 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:27.039 that I have commanded you. There it is. Be strong 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:30.799 and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:33.779 them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with 00:09:33.779 --> 00:09:37.100 you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Then 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:39.779 Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the 00:09:39.779 --> 00:09:42.299 sight of all Israel be strong and courageous. 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:45.179 There it is again. for you shall go with this 00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:48.080 people into the land that the Lord has sworn 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:51.139 to their fathers and give them, and you shall 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:53.879 put them in possession of it. It is the Lord 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:57.179 who goes before you. He will be with you. He 00:09:57.179 --> 00:10:00.539 will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear 00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:06.440 or be dismayed." And so now in Joshua 1, that 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:10.100 Moses has died, the Lord is calling on Joshua 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:14.250 to remember his promises, right? Look at verse 00:10:14.250 --> 00:10:18.750 3. It says, just as I promised Moses. So the 00:10:18.750 --> 00:10:24.529 very promises made to Moses are now made to Joshua. 00:10:26.149 --> 00:10:28.950 But still, have you ever thought of what it would 00:10:28.950 --> 00:10:33.830 be like to lead Israel after the time of Moses? 00:10:34.769 --> 00:10:38.809 Have you ever had to follow somebody in something 00:10:38.809 --> 00:10:42.110 who does a wonderful job? Maybe you're singing 00:10:42.110 --> 00:10:44.710 a solo and you had to follow a wonderful act 00:10:44.710 --> 00:10:47.690 and you think, how in the world can I follow 00:10:47.690 --> 00:10:52.090 that? How in the world can I top that? Think 00:10:52.090 --> 00:10:55.299 about Moses. Moses is the one who met God at 00:10:55.299 --> 00:10:57.639 the burning bush and received his covenant name 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:00.899 of Yahweh. Moses is the one who formed all the 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:03.379 signs and the wonders and the plagues. Moses 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:06.179 is the one the part of the Red Sea. Moses met 00:11:06.179 --> 00:11:09.379 Yahweh at Mount Sinai and led the people through 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:12.779 the wilderness for 40 years. This is Moses. How 00:11:12.779 --> 00:11:17.600 in the world do you follow or top Moses? Well, 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:19.879 here's the good news that you know Joshua doesn't 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:24.019 have to top Moses. Moses is not his standard, 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:28.899 God is. And as the Lord gives these promises, 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:32.639 the Lord also is the one who can give the land. 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:36.080 And yes, there's gonna be battles, but ultimately 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:39.659 it's the Lord who's in control of this land, 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:44.559 right? And so Joshua is really told here, remember 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:48.460 the promises of God. And that's good application 00:11:48.460 --> 00:11:51.259 for us too. We need to remember the promises 00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:55.399 of God that he makes to his people. Passages 00:11:55.399 --> 00:12:00.340 like Romans chapter 10 verse 13, all who call 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:03.440 upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Passages 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:06.299 like Ephesians 2, 8 and 9, for it's by grace 00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:08.539 you've been saved through faith, it's not from 00:12:08.539 --> 00:12:12.360 yourselves, it's the gift of God, right? We need 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:17.940 to remember those kinds of promises. We can even 00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:20.240 remember the promise that Jesus makes in John 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:24.179 14 when he says I go to make a place for you. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:28.159 Talk about territory, right? Our heavenly territory 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:31.960 awaits. Christ has promised it. It is there for 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:35.639 us. But as we recognize this and we recognize 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:38.179 the promises of God, we should also recognize 00:12:38.179 --> 00:12:41.480 the very power of God. Look in verses four and 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:47.200 five. God has the power to ensure that wherever 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:50.879 Israel treads, the land will be theirs. And so 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:54.620 no Hittite, no Ammonite, no Moabite can hold 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:58.480 onto this land against God's purposes. And even 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:02.019 when Israel's enemies were victorious, it was 00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:05.909 only because the Lord allowed it. And this promise 00:13:05.909 --> 00:13:09.429 of this promised land traces not just back to 00:13:09.429 --> 00:13:12.029 Moses, this goes way back. This goes all the 00:13:12.029 --> 00:13:16.009 way back to the time of Abraham, right? And so 00:13:16.009 --> 00:13:18.370 what it really shows us is yes, the power of 00:13:18.370 --> 00:13:21.789 God because God fights for his people. Consider 00:13:21.789 --> 00:13:28.730 the words of Exodus chapter 17. Exodus 17, eight 00:13:28.730 --> 00:13:35.409 through 13. And we'll go nine. Now eight, then 00:13:35.409 --> 00:13:38.750 Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 00:13:38.950 --> 00:13:42.789 So Moses said to Joshua, choose for us men and 00:13:42.789 --> 00:13:46.769 go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will 00:13:46.769 --> 00:13:48.929 stand on the top of the hill with the staff of 00:13:48.929 --> 00:13:52.570 God in my hand. So Joshua did as Moses told him 00:13:52.570 --> 00:13:55.690 and fought with Amalek while Moses, Aaron and 00:13:55.690 --> 00:13:58.740 her went up to the top of the hill. When Moses 00:13:58.740 --> 00:14:01.960 held up his hand, Israel prevailed. And whenever 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:05.919 he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:09.279 hands grew weary. So they took a stone and put 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.980 it under him. And he sat on it while Aaron and 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:15.840 Hur held up his hands on one side and the other 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:19.220 on the other side. So his hands were steady until 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:23.240 the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:28.919 Amalek and his people with the sword. Yes, it's 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:33.919 true. God fights for his people. Joshua then 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:40.360 is being reminded God's power here. Remembering 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:44.740 the power of God, this can help us too. It can 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:48.259 help us not to fear. Perhaps you remember Psalm 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:54.340 27, verse one, the Lord is my light and my salvation. 00:14:54.669 --> 00:14:58.370 Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold 00:14:58.370 --> 00:15:03.009 of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? This puts 00:15:03.009 --> 00:15:06.429 all of our challenges in perspective, doesn't 00:15:06.429 --> 00:15:11.370 it? That every battle is really lopsided against 00:15:11.370 --> 00:15:16.629 the power of God. And this should help you too 00:15:16.629 --> 00:15:20.610 as you go through various situations in which 00:15:20.610 --> 00:15:25.629 you need the courage of God, right? Maybe you're 00:15:25.629 --> 00:15:28.029 getting ready to go on your first mission trip 00:15:28.029 --> 00:15:32.590 and you need to be reminded of the power of God 00:15:32.590 --> 00:15:38.090 maybe Maybe you are in a secular work setting 00:15:38.090 --> 00:15:42.750 and you go in on Monday and people drag Christ's 00:15:42.750 --> 00:15:47.070 name through the mud and you have to stand up 00:15:47.070 --> 00:15:51.269 For who God is and who Christ is Ask the Lord 00:15:51.269 --> 00:15:56.960 to grant you his courage Maybe you have a doctor's 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:59.539 appointment coming up and a potentially devastating 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:04.460 diagnosis. Ask for the very courage of God and 00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:09.759 he will supply. By way of illustration, this 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.720 week you may have seen that there are multiple 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:16.320 reports circulating online of the murder of an 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:20.860 evangelist in Kampala, Uganda. An evangelist 00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:24.840 named Alfred who was preaching at some sort of 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:28.059 a gospel outreach event. He and his wife were 00:16:28.059 --> 00:16:31.480 leaving from the event after it happened and 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:34.879 four men posing as motorcycle taxi drivers, they 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.980 claimed to be Christians and they offered to 00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:40.620 give the evangelist and his wife a ride home. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:44.039 But actually what they did instead is they killed 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:48.580 the evangelist. And so no doubt this will raise 00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:52.639 concerns about ministry in that region. Africa 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:56.580 in that country of Uganda and some people may 00:16:56.580 --> 00:17:00.600 say hey we need to stay away from that it's a 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:02.919 Christian country but it has a growing Muslim 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:05.559 population and certainly there is to be wisdom 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:08.960 when we consider when we go and where we go and 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:13.680 how we go to serve in hostile places but the 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:17.500 Christian knows this that God is at work And 00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:19.920 God has the power to strengthen hearts and bodies 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:22.799 for his work. And God has the power to continue 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:26.559 to bring people to faith in Jesus, perhaps and 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:32.500 maybe especially in hostile situations. Actually, 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:35.079 that kind of persecution rather than silencing 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:39.619 the gospel, all it simply does is fuels the fire 00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:44.000 because God's power cannot be silenced. And this 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:47.799 is especially true. when we realize point number 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:53.559 three, remembering God's presence. There is something 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:57.079 uniquely encouraging about the presence of another 00:17:57.079 --> 00:18:00.960 person, isn't there? Don't you just feel encouraged 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:03.180 as you go through something difficult? I reference 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:06.180 maybe that diagnosis, having somebody there with 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:08.380 you at the doctor's office. Doesn't that mean 00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:12.279 the world to you? It certainly means the world 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:15.700 to me. But someone even greater than our best 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:20.319 friend or even our spouse is with us God promises 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:25.039 his presence God promises to Joshua his Withness 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:28.799 I will be with you in verse 5 as I was with Moses 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:33.000 So I will be with you and friends God's presence 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:36.559 is not occasional verse 9 says the Lord your 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:40.279 God is with you wherever you go and verse 5 says 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:44.880 I will not leave you forsake you." Meaning God's 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:48.339 presence, his witness, he doesn't take time off, 00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:52.519 does he? And this kind of a promise of presence 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:55.940 is echoed throughout Scripture. It's echoed to 00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:58.200 Jacob. You remember when Jacob is told to go 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:01.680 find a wife from among his own people. God promises 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:06.059 to be with him. It's when David speaks to Solomon 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:08.819 as Solomon is getting ready to assume the throne 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:11.960 God promises his presence as David talks to his 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:15.539 son It's it's it's spoken by Solomon himself 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:18.880 at the benediction at the dedication of the temple 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:22.799 and Ultimately God's presence is seen the most 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:28.059 clearly in Jesus Christ who is our Emmanuel God 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:33.509 with us and it's echoed out of the lips of Jesus 00:19:33.509 --> 00:19:37.089 himself at the end of Matthew 28 when he says, 00:19:37.190 --> 00:19:41.289 I am with you always until the end of the age. 00:19:42.769 --> 00:19:47.430 The Christian, you can have courage because God 00:19:47.430 --> 00:19:50.490 is with you. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit 00:19:50.490 --> 00:19:53.359 means we are never left alone and we are never 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:56.900 forsaken. God is with us, strengthening us as 00:19:56.900 --> 00:20:00.359 we do what he has called us to do. And God's 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:02.700 presence is not dependent upon your feelings. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:06.180 I know sometimes we might say or we might feel, 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:08.960 I feel like God's not with me. Well guess what? 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:12.680 It's not dependent upon your feelings. He is 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:16.559 with you. And is there anything more encouraging 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:20.519 than knowing that God is with you at all times? 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:23.700 For me, there's nothing more encouraging than 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:29.579 that. He by his spirit resides in you and because 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:34.059 he does, point four is also important. We are 00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:37.339 to remember God's precepts. The indwelling of 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:40.579 the Holy Spirit helps us to keep God's commands. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:46.359 Look in verses seven and eight. Being courageous, 00:20:47.110 --> 00:20:50.470 also means being obedient. It doesn't do much 00:20:50.470 --> 00:20:53.329 good to say you're courageous if you're not faithful 00:20:53.329 --> 00:20:56.809 enough to stand for truth. So remembering God's 00:20:56.809 --> 00:20:59.230 promises and His power and His presence will 00:20:59.230 --> 00:21:02.549 help you keep His precepts. But you might say, 00:21:02.789 --> 00:21:05.920 well, what in the world are precepts? Well, if 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:08.380 you read in the Psalms, you'll see it quite often, 00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:12.039 actually, especially in Psalm 119, where it says, 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:15.640 I meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on 00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:19.140 your ways. And this is precisely what Joshua 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:23.359 chapter one, verse eight, calls Joshua to do. 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:26.960 This book of the law shall not depart from your 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:30.720 mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:33.759 so that you may be careful to do according to 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:37.769 all that is written. in it. And verse seven links 00:21:37.769 --> 00:21:40.910 strength and courage directly to obedience, being 00:21:40.910 --> 00:21:44.029 careful to do what Moses commanded you. And so 00:21:44.029 --> 00:21:46.910 success and wisdom depend on adhering to the 00:21:46.910 --> 00:21:51.789 revealed word of God. And yet if we were going 00:21:51.789 --> 00:21:55.700 to give. Joshua some encouragement if we were 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:57.980 gonna give him some instruction we would probably 00:21:57.980 --> 00:22:01.119 give Joshua military strategy right we would 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:03.420 say you need all kinds of weapons and things 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:08.220 but here he's just told to adhere to the very 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:12.460 word of God it's as if it's as if the Lord is 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:16.160 telling Joshua remember your training you've 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:21.420 been prepared for this And so he essentially 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:25.400 says, hey, to have courage and to be successful, 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:29.119 know my word and consider it around the clock. 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:35.839 Read it and speak it and memorize it. And friends, 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:38.599 we are to do the same thing. If you're looking 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:41.859 for courage, look no further than the word and 00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:44.519 prayer. Look no further than the means of grace 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:47.259 in which God is really at work in our lives, 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:50.220 strengthening our faith. We need to be committed 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:54.099 to this. You want courage. Make sure you're in 00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:58.220 this book. For this book shows us courage time 00:22:58.220 --> 00:23:02.519 and time and time again as God strengthens us. 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:06.920 And so as I begin to conclude, I have a challenge 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:11.480 for you. Will you let this sermon have an ongoing 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:15.200 impact in trusting God with strength and courage? 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:20.160 If you accept that challenge, don't wait for 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:24.099 the critical moment. Strengthen yourself now 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:27.980 in the Lord. Yes, the Lord will be with you. 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:31.680 And yes, he is. But we need to strengthen ourselves 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:38.690 now by this word. After all, What did the Israelites 00:23:38.690 --> 00:23:45.869 do underneath Joshua? Look in verse 10. And Joshua 00:23:45.869 --> 00:23:49.369 commanded the officers of the people pass through 00:23:49.369 --> 00:23:51.450 the midst of the camp and command the people 00:23:51.450 --> 00:23:54.990 prepare your provisions for within three days 00:23:54.990 --> 00:23:58.529 you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to 00:23:58.529 --> 00:24:00.970 take possession of the land that the Lord your 00:24:00.970 --> 00:24:05.740 God is giving you to possess. So Joshua commands 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:09.140 his officers to tell the people to prepare to 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:12.980 take possession of the land. And what is their 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:18.559 response? Look in verses 16 and 18. And they 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:22.380 answer, Joshua, all that you have commanded us, 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:25.779 we will do. And wherever you send us, we will 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:30.279 go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:33.970 we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God 00:24:33.970 --> 00:24:37.789 be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels 00:24:37.789 --> 00:24:41.089 against your commandment and disobeys your words, 00:24:41.470 --> 00:24:44.009 whatever you command him shall be put to death. 00:24:44.269 --> 00:24:50.150 And here it comes again, only be strong and courageous. 00:24:51.589 --> 00:24:56.890 And so friends, the call for you is to be strong 00:24:56.890 --> 00:25:02.950 and courageous. Remember, God's promises. Remember 00:25:02.950 --> 00:25:07.349 God's power. Remember God's presence. And remember 00:25:07.349 --> 00:25:09.670 his precepts. Let us pray.