22
May '20
Strength for the Journey
22
May '20
Joshua 1:1-9
“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, 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. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 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. 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. 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. 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 withersoever thou goest. 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. 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.”
Introduction: Remember Popeye the Sailor Man? What about the Big, Bad Bully… Brutus? Weak and skinny Popeye turned into an Incredible Hulk when he ate his spinach. This illustrates what believers in Jesus turn into when the POWER of GOD fills us! Joshua experienced this POWER, which gave him STRENGTH for the Journey! How can we be STRONG and COURAGEOUS in the Lord? There are (5) ways:
1. The Lord has promised to be with us when we need COURAGE to cross over IMMOVABLE Obstacles! (Josh 1:1, 2)
” Now after the death of Moses….the Lord spake to Joshua…Moses’ minister, saying, Moses is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan…and all this people unto a land which I do give to them.”
• Passing the baton
• God makes a way
” Now after the death of Moses….the Lord spake to Joshua…Moses’ minister, saying, Moses is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan…and all this people unto a land which I do give to them.”
• Passing the baton
• God makes a way
2. The Lord has promised to be with us when we need COURAGE to take the territory from the enemy! (Josh 1:3)
” Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that I have given you.”
• Take back the territory
• Enlarge your coast
” Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that I have given you.”
• Take back the territory
• Enlarge your coast
3. The Lord has promised to be with us when we need COURAGE to fight our enemy! (Josh 1:5, 6)
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so shall be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of good courage.”
• Stand against the enemies’ attack
• Go get your possession
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so shall be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of good courage.”
• Stand against the enemies’ attack
• Go get your possession
4. The Lord has promised to be with us when we need COURAGE to OBEY! (Josh 1:8)
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but meditate…day and night…observe to do…all that is written for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and have good success.”
• “Meditate” – pictures a cow lying down chewing cuds
• Obedience brings blessings
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but meditate…day and night…observe to do…all that is written for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and have good success.”
• “Meditate” – pictures a cow lying down chewing cuds
• Obedience brings blessings
5. The Lord has promised to be with us when we’re AFRAID and need STRENGTH! (Josh 1:9)
” Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and if good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
• “Strong” means be firm, resolute, prevail
• “Dismayed” means break in pieces, shattered
” Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and if good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
• “Strong” means be firm, resolute, prevail
• “Dismayed” means break in pieces, shattered
Conclusion: Do you need STRENGTH and COURAGE these days? Seniors, teenagers, young adults, dads, moms,
grand parents… every family, every Christian, needs STRENGTH and COURAGE! If we are going to “cross over,” “possess our spiritual possessions,” “drive out the enemy,” and be “blessed and prosper” by the Captain of our Salvation (Jesus Christ), then let’s hear, trust, and obey Him…. get ready for success….. spinach can’t help us like God’s Holy Spirit Power can!
grand parents… every family, every Christian, needs STRENGTH and COURAGE! If we are going to “cross over,” “possess our spiritual possessions,” “drive out the enemy,” and be “blessed and prosper” by the Captain of our Salvation (Jesus Christ), then let’s hear, trust, and obey Him…. get ready for success….. spinach can’t help us like God’s Holy Spirit Power can!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese