Joshua 1:8-9 “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. 9 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.”
Recently we studied How To Live the Victorious Christian Life. We must…
1. Understand God’s Purpose (v 2).
2. Have Faith In God’s Promises (v 3-4).
3. Be Assured of God’s Presence (v 5).
4. Be Devoted to God’s Precepts (v 7-8).
TEXT: Joshua 1:10-16; 3:1-17
Last time we saw that Joshua was a man of COURAGE, CHARACTER, CAREFULNESS, CONFIDENCE and COMMITMENT. In today’s text we find some additional information about Joshua’s character.
- He was a man of ACTION (1:10-11). He wasn't one to procrastinate. He had wondered in the wilderness 40 years because of others.
Col 3:23 “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily (whole heart), as to the Lord.”
Remember the situation they were facing (Joshua 1:2; 3:1). “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… [3:1] And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.”
Having made these introductory remarks let me share with you some additional information about Living by Faith…
Living by Faith means…
1. DOING OUR DUTY (Joshua 1:10-16). Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare … for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan … to possess the land, which the LORD … giveth you to possess it.” 12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, 13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land … 14 which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them; 15 Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, … then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it,...” 16 And they answered Joshua, saying, “All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.”
- Reuben, Gad and ½ of Manasseh stayed east of Jordan (Numbers 32).
- God’s work requires a UNITED effort. We ALL have a common purpose and responsibility. Being a sideliner hinders the work of Christ.
Numbers 32:23 “If ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.”
James 4:17 “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
2. FACING OUR FOE (3:1). “Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim [thorns], and came to Jordan [Judgment], he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.”
- You’ll never move forward by standing still! We must face our foe – the gauntlet of fear & unbelief!
Satan is our enemy – his most effective weapons are Fear & Unbelief.
God's Word says, “In all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Romans 8:37
Living by Faith means…
3. CENTERING ON CHRIST (3:3-4). They commanded the people, saying, “When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.”
- The Ark is a picture of Jesus Christ!
- The Reason (v 4b)? “For ye have not passed this way heretofore.”
- But Jesus has! Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
- Only Jesus knows what tomorrow holds! Do not become confident in the flesh. The arm of flesh will fail you, but Jesus never fails!
4. SANCTIFYING FOR SERVICE (3:5). Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
- Sanctification means devotion to things eternal (Romans 12:1-2).
5. BECOMING A BRINKMAN of God's blessing (3:6-8). “Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people.” And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. 7 And the Lord said unto Joshua, 8…And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.”
- Brink (v 8) [kwatžseh] extreme edge, the point beyond which a result is inevitable. Note v 15. “And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)”
- The Brink is… the closest point between you and a discovery!
- Brinkmanship is the method of maneuvering a perilous situation to the limits of endurance in order to secure the greatest advantage!
- WHERE DOES GOD OPERATE? ON THE BRINK!!! The shortest distance between you and God's blessing!
- We need to!
Hear God (v 9). Joshua said, “Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.”
Trust God (v 10). Joshua said, “Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites…”
Behold God (v 14-17). “And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; 15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. 17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.”
CONCLUSION: Isaiah 43:2-3 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:.. 3 For I am the LORD thy God,…thy Saviour:..”
