[0:00] Now, we're going to go halfway through the chapter and verse 14, reminding ourselves again the context is that the ministry of Moses is coming to the end.
[0:14] God's people are on the threshold of entering into the promised land. It's a new beginning, a new start, and already we've seen this morning God speaking to Joshua and the people at the start of chapter 1, and we're going to look at the next few verses as well.
[0:29] So first of all, we'll read Deuteronomy chapter 31 from verse 14 and to the end of the chapter.
[0:42] Here is God's faithful word. The Lord said to Moses, now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, or I will commission him.
[0:54] So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the tent of meeting. Then the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.
[1:06] And the Lord said to Moses, you are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.
[1:20] On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them. I'll hide my face from them and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and difficulties will come upon them, and on that day they will ask, have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?
[1:35] Thou will certainly hide my face on that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods. Now, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and make them sing it so that it may be a witness for me against them.
[1:51] When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat, their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant.
[2:05] And when many disasters and difficulties come upon them, this song will testify against them because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do.
[2:17] Even before I bring them into the land, I promise them on oath. So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites. The Lord gave this command to Joshua, son of Nun, be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land, I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.
[2:37] After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord. Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God.
[2:52] There it will remain as a witness against you. For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die?
[3:07] Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials so I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to testify against them. For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you.
[3:22] Days to come disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoke him to anger by what your hands have made. And then we turn over to Joshua and chapter 1 and verse 6.
[3:38] Joshua and chapter 1 and verse 6. So we looked at the first five verses this morning and now verse 6. Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
[3:56] Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left that you may be successful wherever you go.
[4:09] Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
[4:21] Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
[4:33] So Joshua ordered the officers of the people. Go through the camp and tell the people. Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here. And go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.
[4:49] Let's pray together.
[5:01] Let us all pray. We come to you our Father and our God this evening with that desire to hear your voice. And know you're speaking to us.
[5:13] Not speaking to us individually. But speaking to us corporately as well as a body, a church. We pray oh Lord that you would give us ears to hear.
[5:23] We pray oh Lord that your spirit, he who is the spirit of truth would come upon us. That he would give to us teachable hearts and minds. That he would take the words, your words and through the instrumentality of preaching.
[5:39] And through the foolishness of preaching. We pray oh Lord that you would so speak. That we may know that we have heard from you. For your words are life and they are power.
[5:49] And we ask that our ears may not simply be tickled. But Lord our lives conform to the likeness of your dear son. And that all the glory and praise is his.
[6:01] So help us now. For we ask it in the name. And for the praise of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Well we're in Joshua chapter 1 again.
[6:13] And particularly those verses 6 and following that the Lord speaks to Joshua. Now if you get a chance to read Hebrews 11.
[6:28] You'll find there's a long list there of men and women of the faith. Men and women of the Old Testament who were faithful and trusting in God.
[6:39] People like Noah and Abraham. Jacob and Joseph. Joseph. People like David and Samson and so on. But surprisingly. And Moses of course as well.
[6:50] But surprisingly you won't find Joshua's name there. He's not recorded or spoken of. And there are many omissions if I can put it that way. That we find in that list.
[7:01] It's not a full list in that sense. It's mainly the writer giving us examples of men and women of God. And we come to of course this book named after the very man himself.
[7:12] Joshua. And particularly to this passage which speaks about his commissioning. Him taking over the role and the leadership of God's people from Moses. That great man of God who the Lord used to do incredible marvelous things.
[7:26] But even before we get to the book of Joshua. If you read through Numbers and Exodus and Leviticus. You'll find that Joshua was a man of action. A man of heroism.
[7:37] A man of courage. Already. Back in chapter 17. Not long after the people had started out from Egypt. It's Joshua who leads the army of God's people into battle against the Amalekites.
[7:50] It's later on in Numbers 13. When the people arrive at the boundary of the promised land. Joshua is one of 12 only. 12 men handpicked. Who were brave enough to go in and spy out the land.
[8:03] And to come back with a report. So that the people could go in. And it's Joshua who along with Caleb stands against the whole of the people of God. And says we should go in.
[8:13] We must go in. To trust God. Even when they're threatened with death. It's Joshua who we find as we go through the narrative of those years in the wilderness.
[8:24] Who begins to spend more and more time in the presence of God. He and Moses were really the only two people allowed to enter the tent of meeting. And speak with God.
[8:35] And have fellowship with him. He's a godly man. And he's a brave man. He's the right hand man as it were of Moses for nearly 40 years.
[8:47] And yet when he comes to this moment in his life. He comes to this place of change. He comes to this time when he is to lead the people of God into the promised land.
[8:59] It's there that God speaks to him three times of his need of strength and courage. There in verse 6. Be strong and courageous.
[9:12] Verse 7. Be strong and very courageous. Verse 9. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
[9:22] But when we think about Joshua as we just have briefly. We see that it seems to be that he was a man who didn't need strength and courage. If there was ever a man who stood as it were spiritually head and shoulders above the whole of God's people.
[9:36] It would have been Joshua in that time for strength and courage. But you see God knows the heart. He knows your heart and mine better than anybody else.
[9:50] We may give the impression. We may give the sense to others that we are strong and courageous. Or that we are capable or able. Or that we are unafraid. Or that we are full of faith.
[10:02] Or however it may be. But God knows the heart. And it seems that at this very junction in the life of Joshua. God knew that he lacked strength and courage.
[10:14] And so on these three occasions speaks to him of strength and courage. You see the task that Joshua now faced was greater than anything he'd faced before.
[10:26] He wasn't just taking over from Moses. That great and glorious man as we thought about this morning. He's not just having the mantle as it were passed to him.
[10:36] The baton passed to him. But more than that he's going to lead the people into the promised land. He's going to do something Moses never did. And was unable to do.
[10:49] Something Moses failed to do. Joshua now was expected to do. What happens if he was to fail? What happens if he was to make a mess of it?
[11:00] Just as has happened 40 years before. Joshua was facing something unknown. And again for us dear friends.
[11:11] The threshold of the new year. We do not know what we face in the year ahead. But we can be certain and sure. That it will be something we've never experienced before.
[11:23] That's what's so frightening isn't it? It's new. If it was the same challenges. If it was we just went over the same things we've done in the past. That would be hard enough.
[11:33] But we know that what we face will be new. It will test us to greater lengths. It will be more difficult than anything before. Because it will be different. Different. Perhaps we might fail.
[11:48] Perhaps we might fail in the year 2015. Perhaps we might fail as a parent. Perhaps we might fail as a husband. Or a wife. Perhaps we might fail in our Christian witness university.
[12:01] Perhaps we might fail as an elder. Or a pastor. Perhaps we might fail. In our work situation. In our Christian witness. All these things. What happens if I fail?
[12:15] And of course Joshua had the extra. Need of strength and courage. Because of what he knew. He would have to face. It wasn't just the things he didn't know he would have to face.
[12:27] Which would be great. But he knew that he'd have to deal with these people. These rebellious. Difficult. Awkward. Troublesome. People. For 40 years.
[12:39] Moses had put up with them. Whining. And complaining. And moaning. That's all they did. Wasn't it? That's all they did for 40 years.
[12:49] Oh we don't like having manna. We want some quail instead. Oh we're thirsty. Where's the water? All they did. Go to Moses.
[13:00] We're there. Complain. Moses you're too bossy. And as we read. And for that very reason. We read. As we did from Deuteronomy chapter 31.
[13:10] God told Moses and Joshua. That when they go into the promised land. Nothing's going to change. They're still going to be difficult.
[13:21] They're still going to rebel. In fact God says. When I take them into the land. They're going to turn to foreign gods. When they're settled. And all is well. Their hearts are going to go away from me. And they're going to forsake me.
[13:31] And I'm going to forsake them. Joshua knew all these things. And we know the world in which we live in. Don't we? We know the people we've got to work with.
[13:43] We know the relationships that we've got to work at. You're getting to know me a little bit now.
[13:54] After 10 months. And I'm getting to know you. I don't know whether that gives you hope or not. It does me. It does me. I say that. It does me. But above all that of course.
[14:08] God speaks to Joshua. With words of strength and courage. Because. Joshua was just a man. Because more than anything else. Joshua was aware of his own weaknesses.
[14:20] His own inabilities. His own frailties. As the saying goes. The best of men are men at best. When we look out on 2015. We can't help but look out.
[14:33] And be aware of. Ourselves. Was my walk with the Lord Jesus in 2014. Really that good? Did I love him.
[14:44] As I should have loved him. Was I faithful to his word. Was I considerate and loving to all his people. Was I a faithful witness.
[14:56] When I had opportunity to witness. I'm sure that above all else. Joshua was. Most concerned. God. Because he knew that in himself. He had nothing to bring.
[15:11] So what did the Lord God. Speak to Joshua. He spoke to him strength and courage. Because of what he had in store for him.
[15:25] His words were to embolden him. His words were to strengthen him. His words were to impart to him. That which he needed to rest and trust in. As he went forward.
[15:36] The word of God was. To him such a word. That he should not be afraid to go forward. But take the challenge. And lead the people. And carry out.
[15:46] The promises of God. And for us dear friends. One of the great things that we are aware of. As we go into 2015. Is this.
[15:57] That as we go into this year. As Christians. We go in the Lord's service. We go in the Lord's service. Now Joshua needed strength and courage.
[16:08] Because he was called to lead. And serve God's people. Be courageous and strong. Verse 6. Because you will lead. Lead these people. You will lead these people.
[16:21] God had charged him. With that commission. That he might fulfill his promises. To God. To his own people. That he might bless his own people. And do them good. And we need to get hold of this again.
[16:33] I'm sure that we're aware of it. I believe that we are in this fellowship. But it's important for us to. Remind ourselves of this truth. That every one of us. Who are believers. Are called. Into the service.
[16:44] Of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ. Every one of us. Is called into the privilege. Of serving Christ. And his church. No matter who we are. Now it may be.
[16:55] For some of us. That that service. Does include leadership. As it did for Joshua. But for others of us. And for many of us. The service that Christ. Has called us into.
[17:06] Is a service. Of love and care. Of supports. Of help. Here's Peter. Writing his letter. His first letter. And listen carefully.
[17:17] To his words. He's writing to the whole church. Not writing to the pastor. Or the elders only. Or the deacons only. Or the members only. He's writing to. All the church. And he says in verse 10. Of chapter 4.
[17:28] Of 1 Peter. Each one. Should use whatever gift. He's received. To serve others. Notice that. He doesn't say.
[17:39] Those of you. Who have a gift. Use it. He says. Each one of you. Should use. Whatever gift. He's received. That's from God.
[17:50] To serve others. Faithfully. Administering God's grace. In its diverse. Or various. Differing. Forms. God.
[18:01] Has called each of us. To serve. So in 2015. You and I. Are servants. Of Christ. And the wonderful truth.
[18:12] Is this. That whatever service. We've been called to. By God. We will need strength. And courage. To do it. That's why. Peter goes on.
[18:22] To say. If anyone serves. He should do it. With the strength. God. Provides. So that in all things. God may be praised. Through Jesus.
[18:33] Christ. Now. For some of us. Many of us. There may be like Joshua. Those things. That make us say. I can't. Serve.
[18:44] The Lord. God. I can't. I can't. Because. I'm too young. That's. The excuse. That they gave to Timothy. Wasn't it? On Timothy 4. 2.
[18:56] Paul writes to him. Don't let anyone. Look down on you. Because you're young. There is service. For us. No matter how young. We are. Let me just turn that. On its head.
[19:07] And bring the obvious. Vice versa. Don't let anyone. Look down on you. Because you're too old. Including yourself. Oh. We've had our day.
[19:18] You know. My day. That was our day. And that's when we serve. Now. Now. Now. It's not our day to serve. Yes. It is your day to serve. Dear friend. Because the Lord.
[19:31] Hasn't taken you home yet. There remains a rest. For the people of God. Which we enter into. At Christ's coming. Or a death. There's service for us now.
[19:43] Whether we're young. Whether we're old. It may of course be. That we feel. Inadequate. To the task. We don't feel that we have.
[19:55] All that's needed. To serve the Lord. We don't have those gifts. Of preaching. We don't have those gifts. Of administration. We don't have that gift. Of being a great cook. Or whatever it may be. We may feel.
[20:06] That we're inadequate. Well. The Apostle Paul. Felt inadequate. Do you know that? Apostle Paul. Yes. Super Paul. The one who went around. With a cape. Ta-da.
[20:17] He did have a cape. Didn't he? Because he says. Make sure you bring your cape with me. No. But he didn't do that. He didn't fly with it. But. Super Paul. Felt inadequate. He was able to write. To the Corinthians. And believers. And he said to them.
[20:28] Not that we are competent. In ourselves. He had all that education. He had all that background. He had all that ability. He had probably one of the greatest minds. Of the ancient world.
[20:39] He says. We're not competent. In ourselves. Do the work that God has called us to do. Perhaps you just feel. Too weak.
[20:50] Too insignificant. Too foolish. To the church. To the church. Well. To the church. To the church. At Corinth. Paul writes. To the believers. God chose the foolish things of the world.
[21:02] To shame the wise. He chose the weak things of this world. To shame the strong. The things that are not. To nullify the things that are. You see.
[21:15] Whatever our view of ourselves. Whatever other people's view of ourselves. Whatever our realistic limitations. That we know that we have. They do not change the command of God.
[21:29] They do not change the will of God. They do not change the purpose of God. The purpose of God in Christ. Is that you dear Christian. Should serve him.
[21:40] And bring glory. To his name. So when God speaks to Joshua. He does not say. Be strong and courageous. In case you feel you might be able to lead the people.
[21:51] Be strong and courageous. Because you know. If you don't mind. I'd rather like you to. Because I can't find anybody else to do the job. Be strong and courageous.
[22:02] Because you will lead the people. To inherit the land. The Lord who calls us.
[22:15] Is the same one who equips us. So we read there in 1 Peter chapter 4. Anyone serves. Let him do it. It's the strength the Lord provides.
[22:26] You don't know what strength you have from the Lord. Until you begin to use it. Again as somebody has said. Where God guides.
[22:37] God provides. So it is. So it is for Joshua. So God says to Joshua. Be strong and courageous. Because you will lead this people.
[22:49] And God says to you and I. In 2015. Be strong and courageous. Because you will serve my purposes. In Whitby. Because you will. Honor and glorify my name.
[23:00] In this church. Because you will. Be a blessing. To others. Then God goes on. Doesn't he?
[23:12] He says be strong and very courageous. Verse 7. Why does he need. That. Strength and courage. Be careful to obey.
[23:24] All the law. My servant Moses gave you. Do not turn from it. To the right or the left. That you may be successful. Wherever you go. Do not let this book of the law. Depart from your mouth.
[23:35] Meditate on it. Day and night. So that you may be careful. To do whatever is written. In it. God stresses to. Joshua. How vital it is.
[23:46] That. He obeys. The word of God. In one sense. It is comparative. To his. To his. Success. He says. As you. Obey my word.
[23:58] As you live out my word. As you keep my word. You will be successful. And notice how he stresses it. Observe.
[24:08] Do not turn. Let not this book depart. God. It is imperative. That Joshua's. Life. And ministry. Is in line. With the word of God.
[24:21] It's imperative. That it is in keeping. With God's. Revealed. Will. And notice. That God. Doesn't just say. I want you on the outside. To keep all my laws.
[24:33] I want you to do things. According to the outward. As it were. But notice. He impresses. Upon. Joshua. The importance. Of the inward life. Being saturated.
[24:43] With the word of God. Let it not. Depart. From your mouth. Meditate. On it. Day. And night. In other words. Absorb it. Make it your very breath.
[24:55] Make it your very life. And on two occasions. God promises to Joshua. That as he does that. Success.
[25:06] And prosperity. Will follow. Now we need to be very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Careful here. There is a school of thinking.
[25:20] Within the church. That says. If you do. A. B. C. In the right order. You will get. Church growth. You will get conversions. You will get this.
[25:31] Or you will get that. And others as well. Would say. If you keep the law. And you. You are so careful. To restrict. And to direct.
[25:42] Everything you do. By the letter. Of the law of God. Then you must have his blessing. I don't believe that's what is being written here.
[25:54] I don't believe that's the attitude of the scriptures at all. That we are to have in one sense. A formulaic. Or legalistic. Type of obedience.
[26:05] To the living God. I believe. Because of what we read here. About Joshua. And particularly upon. God's stress. Upon him meditating. Upon the word.
[26:16] We see that it is a love. Of God's word. It's a desire to do God's will. It's a seeking after his. Purposes and promises. Above all else.
[26:28] Which is that which God desires. We know how. Easy it is to fall into error. When we simply are. Concerned with keeping.
[26:39] All of our T's and I's. Crossed and dotted. As they should be. Because we have the warning of the Pharisees. In the New Testament. We have the legalism. And the deadness of Islam.
[26:52] And many other religions as well. What God is saying to Joshua. Is surely about the heart. Surely about the heart.
[27:04] It does not mean that the heart. Overrides the will of God. Or overrides the word of God. It doesn't say. Well I can do this. Because I think or feel. This is what is pleasing to God.
[27:14] Of course not. But what it does say is this. In my heart of hearts. I long to do your will O Lord. It's the Psalm 119 isn't it?
[27:25] Read that Psalm. It's all about the word of God. It's all about the law of God. The precepts of God. The commands of God. But it's all about them ruling.
[27:36] And guiding. And directing the hearts. And from the heart. Flows the life. What God is saying to Joshua.
[27:48] He says to us dear friends. As you go out. Into the new land. As you go out. Into 2015. As you go out. To serve. As you go out. With all your fears. And concerns.
[27:59] About failing. Or getting it wrong. Or making mistakes. Or being defeated. Let the word of God. Dwell in you richly. And you'll have nothing else to fear.
[28:13] Let the word of God. Be the guide. Let the word of God. Be the. Be as it were. The manual. To direct you. In the way that you do. And act. And live. Let the word.
[28:24] Soak through you. In such a way. That when you come to decisions. When you come to. Opportunities. When you come to challenges. The word is such a part of your life.
[28:34] That upon God. You can trust. That as you seek to do. His will. His will shall be done. It's a very. It's spiritual.
[28:45] Isn't it? It's the word. And the spirit. Changing. Directing. Conforming. And God promises to Joshua.
[28:58] Twice. He will be successful. That you may be successful. Verse 8. Then you will be prosperous. Verse 8. And here again.
[29:08] Is a principle. That pervades the scriptures. Faithfulness. To God. And his word. Is the only true measure. Of success. In Christian service.
[29:23] Faithfulness. To God. And his word. Is the only true measure. Of success. In Christian service. It is not the numbers. It is not the acclamation. Of men.
[29:34] It is not the books. That are written. It is nothing other. Than. Loving the Lord. And doing his will. That's why we have that wonderful parable.
[29:45] Don't we. In. Of Jesus. About the talents. Remember. The one who has 10. The one who has 5. The one who has 1. The words of God. To his servants.
[29:56] Were well done. Good and faithful. Servants. Some did great things. Some did little things. But it was faithfulness. That mattered.
[30:08] And notice here as well. It's important that we do. Verse 7. God says. Be strong and. Very courageous.
[30:20] Be strong and. Exceedingly courageous. Why. Why does he say that? What does he say? Particularly. Here. In the context of obedience. In the context of leading this rebellious.
[30:34] Difficult. Awkward. Troublesome. People. Just be strong and. Ordinary courageous. But when it comes to obeying my word. Be strong and very courageous. Be very brave.
[30:50] See there's nothing more fearful. For the Christian. Nothing more fearful for him. Than his own sin.
[31:03] And when we study the word of God. When we let the word of God. Permeate our hearts and minds. When we find ourselves. Those who. Look into.
[31:14] The law. Of the Lord. We find that it reflects. Our own hearts. In the sense of it. Shines a light. Into the dark recesses. Of what we really like.
[31:26] That's why the world. Didn't like Jesus. Did it? Jesus said. The lights come into the world. The world doesn't like the light. It lights the darkness. And so it is with the word. The more we.
[31:38] Seek Christ in his word. And the more we read his word. And the more we apply his word. And meditate upon his word. The more we are shown to be. The sinful. Failing. Impotent people we are.
[31:50] And how far short we are fallen. From the glory of God. And so dear friends. Like Joshua. We need more courage. Extra courage. Extra courage. To trust God.
[32:02] That where sin abounds. Grace abounds. All the more. We need courage. To look into God's word. And when it shows us. Our sin and our failings.
[32:14] Not to be fearful. But to look to God. Not only for the grace to forgive. But the power to change. We need courage.
[32:25] That when God's word shows. And calls us to obedience. And it means that we will be. Unpopular. With our peers. That we will have courage.
[32:36] Yet to trust God. To be obedient. To walk in it. Be. Very. Courageous.
[32:47] Dear friends. With the word of God. Don't be scared. Of the word of God. But come to it with courage. That it may expose you. For who you are.
[32:58] And that God in his grace. Wonderfully. Not only forgives. But gives the power. To transform. And to change. And to live. And to obey. And then we see as well.
[33:12] That Joshua needed courage. As we do. And strength. To overcome the discouragements. That he would certainly experience. As he sought to serve the Lord.
[33:24] Verse 9. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. God again knew.
[33:36] That discouragement. Would come. To Joshua. See the wonderful thing is this. As we recognize. God not only knows our hearts.
[33:46] As they are before him now. He knows our hearts. As they will be before him. In the coming days. When we face those challenges. And disappointments.
[33:58] And discouragements. God knows. That we will need. To be encouraged. God knew. That Joshua. Would find times. When his heart. Was in his boots. That Joshua.
[34:09] Would feel. At times. Like throwing himself. Under the wheels. Of the chariot. Walking away. From the people. But God knew.
[34:22] How he would respond. To those future events. And we know now. We look in hindsight now. But imagine. How on earth. Did Joshua feel. In chapter 5. As he stood before Jericho.
[34:32] With its impenetrable. High walls. As he walked around it. We're told. Surveying it. And then met with Christ. The commander. Of the Lord's armies.
[34:43] But how did he feel. In his heart. This. This impregnable city. How on earth. Are we going. To overcome this. Or how did he feel.
[34:54] When the army of Israel. Was beaten. By the men of Ai. They went out. Thinking. Oh well. It's easy peasy. There's a few of them. A few thou. That's no problem. We won't send all the army.
[35:06] Let's just send a few. Send them with their tails. Between their legs. What happens. They send them out. And they come running back. Overwhelmed. And overcome. By the men of Ai.
[35:16] This smaller army. What on earth. Was going through. Joshua's heart then. Surely. Didn't his heart break. When Achan sinned.
[35:28] And stole. And kept to himself. That gold. And that treasure. Didn't his heart break. When he saw there. Or even as soon.
[35:38] As soon as they had seen. God's goodness. He saw again. The wickedness. Of the human heart. And the sinfulness. Of greed.
[35:49] Wasn't he discouraged. Wasn't he disappointed. Wasn't he filled with fear. And doubts. Of course he was going to be. And God knew that. And that's why he needed strength.
[36:02] To overcome this. Don't think for a moment. And I'm sure none of you. Do think for a moment. But let's be honest. Some of us do have. An optimistic tendency. Which is a nice thing to have. But some of us.
[36:13] Look out in 2015. And say. Yes. This is the year. We're going to have revival. This is the year. That God's going to send. His blessing down. Upon his church. In the United Kingdom. And we're going to see.
[36:24] Thousands converted. We're going to see. The nation changed. Well we're going to be. Discouraged. Aren't we? When we don't see that happen.
[36:36] I will be. I know you will be. There's going to be. Disappointments aren't there? There's going to be failures. There's going to be things. That we try to do. As a church together. Or in our own. Individual lives.
[36:46] That fall flat. New initiatives. In evangelism. Or whatever it may be. Boom. Like a lead balloon. And of course.
[36:57] We're going to sin. Aren't we? We're going to sin. We're going to sin against one another. I'm going to say something. That's going to really upset you. And you're probably going to do the same to me.
[37:11] We're going to let ourselves down. Let one another down. We're going to see what's going on. In the community around about us. We're going to have people. Who are going to reject the gospel. As we speak to them. We're going to have mums.
[37:22] And mums and toddlers. Who are difficult. And don't want there to be a Christian emphasis. We're going to have parents. In the children's work. Doing the same. We're going to have spiritual attacks.
[37:32] From Satan. The enemy around about us. One after another. There's going to be mistake. Failure. Disappointment. Discouragement. Challenge. Trial.
[37:42] Be strong. And courageous. Don't be strong and courageous.
[37:56] Because none of these things are ever going to happen. You don't need strength and courage. When everything's easy going. Do you? I can be the bravest man in the world. I can put a hundred men to flight.
[38:08] As long as there's nobody in front of me. Who wants a fight. We can be as strong. And we can be as brave. And we can be as courageous. As anybody else. When the sun is shining.
[38:20] But God says to you and to me. Be strong and courageous. Because the sun ain't going to shine every day. Because everything isn't going to go smooth every day. But.
[38:32] But. But. But. But. But. That you may have success. And then you will be prosperous.
[38:45] It is through. Those. Those. Difficult. Times. That the church of Jesus Christ. Grows. It is through the trials.
[38:57] And strains. And upsets. Of the Christian life. That we grow. And mature. And develop. And it's through those things. That God works.
[39:08] To save. And to transform. And to change. But listen to this. As we close dear friends. Verse.
[39:22] Nine. Have. I. Not. Commanded you. Be strong. And courageous. Have. I. Not. Commanded you.
[39:35] It's almost a chastisement. Isn't it? It seems. A telling off. Now Joshua. I've commanded you to be strong. And courageous. So you will be strong. And courageous. Don't you dare be afraid.
[39:47] Don't you dare doubt. No it's not that at all. God is not chastising. Rather. These are words of certainty. And confidence. That in the coming. Difficult days.
[39:58] God will give. The courage. And the strength. That Joshua. Needs. I've commanded it. Therefore it shall be so. That's our God.
[40:08] Isn't it? There's a lovely instance of that. In the provision. Of Elijah. Don't need to turn to it. But in Elijah 7. 1 Kings 17. Elijah is sent by God.
[40:20] Into the wilderness. This is what God says to him. You'll drink from the brook. And I have ordered. The ravens to feed you. Later on.
[40:30] When the spring dries up. And there's no water. He goes. He tells him. Go at once to Zarephath. Of Sidon. And stay there. I have commanded. A widow. To feed you. Do you see what's happening?
[40:43] God says. I've ordered the ravens. Against their better judgment. And natural instinct. To pick up food. Not eat it. But carry it to you. And feed you.
[40:54] I have commanded. A widow. Who is about to die. And preparing a last meal. For a son. To feed you. I'm the sovereign God. Who provides for you. Everything that you need.
[41:04] If I commanded. It will be done. And I have commanded you. Dear friends. Says God. To be strong and courageous. Why?
[41:15] Because in the time. When you need strength and courage. I've commanded you to have it. And you shall have it. And he closes with that promise.
[41:26] Upon which everything else. Hangs and stands. For the Lord your God. Will be with you. Wherever you go. Why does he say it like that?
[41:39] Why doesn't he do what he did in verse 5? I will be with you. I will never forsake you. Why doesn't he use the personal noun? The first person.
[41:49] I. I. He uses the third. The Lord your God will be with you. Is this if he's talking about somebody else? No he's not. What he's ratifying. What he's clarifying.
[42:00] What he's saying to Joshua is this. The Lord. Yahweh. Jehovah. The covenant name. The name that God gave to Moses. At that first meeting.
[42:12] At the burning bush. When he commissioned him. To go into Egypt. And deliver his people. I. Yahweh. The covenant God. The God who has made an unbreakable.
[42:23] Union. And relationship with you. And with my people. I am with you. Wherever you go. You can be sure. That you will have courage. You can be sure.
[42:33] You'll have strength. In the discouragements. You can be sure. You'll have courage. You can be sure. You'll have strength. As you seek to obey. And live by my word. You can be sure. You'll have courage.
[42:43] You can be sure. You'll have strength. As you go in my service. Why? Because I've covenanted. Myself. To you. With a loving. Kindness. That can never. Ever.
[42:54] Be. Broken. And so. We're back again. To where we were this morning. In Romans. And chapter 8. In all these things.
[43:06] We are more than conquerors. Through him. Who loved us. For I am convinced. That neither death. Nor life. Neither angels. Nor demons. Neither the present. Nor the future.
[43:18] Nor any powers. Neither height. Nor depth. Nor anything else. In all creation. Will be able to separate us. From the love of God. That is in Christ Jesus.
[43:29] Our Lord. That's true. Then. It's true. For 2014. It's true. For 2015.
[43:40] In fact. For every year. Until the Lord. Comes. Again. Let. Let. And the God.
[43:51] Of all grace. Who called you. To his eternal glory. In Christ. After you have suffered. A little while. Will himself. Restore you.
[44:03] And make you strong. Firm. And steadfast. To him be the power. And the glory. Forever. And ever. Amen.
[44:14] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[44:32] Amen. Amen. Amen. Have a great day. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.