Phil continued our series looking at Joshua. Phil spoke about how Joshua needed to face the future with faith and courage. We do too.
Joshua 1 : 1-7
Introduction
• Last week Vicki introduced our series on Joshua and talked about how we are to respond to what God has said
• I have lived with a prophetic word for over 5 years now
• That word is The Moses Years are over the Joshua era is coming
• Moses my servant is Dead
• Joshua taking over from Moses – You can’t follow a dead man God appointed Joshua to lead the people, he was to fill Moses, Big shoes to fill
• God Given Territory was the promise to the people of God
V 2 - Therefore the time has come for you to lead this people
Maybe all of Joshua's life was leading to this point
Or maybe he was taken by surprise that God chose him to lead
Why not someone else why not Caleb he was the other f the 12 spies that went into the land and saw with Faith.
Maybe God knew Joshua already had it within him to be strong and very courageous
How do we go through a time of change with Faith and Courage ?
We live in times of uncertainty and change seems to be happening all the times
Times have changed
From joining this church some 30 years ago times have changed.
Things have changed, I've obviously changed in my appearance, but also i have changed as a person
• Not all change seems good - not quite as thin as i was, grey hair and a bit less of it
• Change can affect or even upset our plans or our routines
• Times of change bring fresh challenge, different ways of doing things
• Times of change can cause us to question God, ourselves and sometimes everything we have known
If nothing changes things will stay the same!
Is it time for something to change in your life?
So On the other hand
• Change can be good
• It can take us into what God has promised
• It can take us to full our dreams and visions
• It can bring us out of places where we have been stuck and feeling hopeless
What was changing for Joshua and the People?
• This was a time of use change for Joshua and the people of God
• Moses dies, he had led the people for 40 years,
• Joshua had served the vision God had given to Moses for those 40 years
• The people had only known Moses as their leader, that had only known mana fro Heaven, clothes and shoes that had never worn out. They only knew dessert life,
• A nomadic people
• Joshua had been their through all their journeying and seem the people guve themselves to idols, to immorality, to grumbling and complaining and accusing Moses
So how do we handle the changes being strong and courageous
Video clip - Evan Almighty
1. Whats your perspective, are you looking at the change being critical or negative?
2. Whats your response to change, its not like it used to be, the good old days things were better then
3. Things aren't the same now their not here, its all falling apart
As in the clip if some asks for strength and courage does God give them a nice warm fuzzy feeling or does he give them the opportunity to be strong and exercise courage?
God said the Joshua v5
No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
Joshua 1:5 NTL
Conclusion
Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. Esv - Patience
Hebrews 6:12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.6.12.NLT
Questions
If God has spoken to us about our future and the promise he made that is yet to be fulfilled both personally and as a church, how are we responding?
• What opportunity is there for you to be strong and courageous?
• How are you looking at your situation the changes in your life or even church life?
• Is it critical, complaining grumbling ?
• Are you looking with faith or fear to the future? In what way?
Or
Are we getting ourselves ready and respo
