Being a Joseph people with a Joshua heart
Joshua is a warrior, a general, his name is the Hebrew version of Jesus
It is a book about overcoming spiritual warfare it is a mirror/parelled of the book of Ephesians what Ephesians explains doctrinally Joshua explains practically
Joshua Possession of earthly kingdom/land Ephesians church possession of the Kingdom of heaven
Genesis – Election
Exodus – deliverance went in as a family came out as a nation, redemption by grace
Leviticus – manner of worship and fellowship sanctification
Numbers – failure of unbelief
Deuteronomy – obedience
Joshua is a practical book about warfare, they were on the offense as we should be rather than fearing the enemies we attack hell to take back the land and the people….gaining victory and what tools to we use to gain victory
Joshua is about our predestined inheritance of God’s people through one man like we gain our predestined inheritance through one man Jesus…both are a gift of grace received by faith…by law Israel could not be entitled to the land, it was a gift of God but they still had to take possession of it not just sit around and wait for it to be given to them as we must do with the Kingdom of heaven
Matthew 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Joshua 1:1-9– The commission
After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—4 from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ 5 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. 6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Six attributes of Joshua
1) Joshua was a faith person.
He had faith to believe God when no one else did – he received God’s commission by faith to lead the people
He was faithful to God and the leadership: he was promoted because he learned to be humble, trust God and serve under Moses –
Exodus 33:11
Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.
Joshua 1:7
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do
God can and will give us dreams but we must remain servants and obedient to see them fulfilled…we can not be blessed of God with pride and arrogance…if you are struggling with a dream have you rebelled against your boss, parents, pastors, other leaders…have you violated God’s principles but expect God’s blessings
2) Joshua had vision–
Numbers 14:6-9
Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
He saw the potential within the promise & God’s people
He could see God’s favor was upon them
As we talked the last two weeks we need to dream big and line it up with God’s big dream, what were you created to do, and what has he called you to do
3) Joshua had purpose
Joshua 1:3,4
I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—4 from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.
He knew God’s desire for the people
He needed to lead the people into the promise
God has give each of us a measure of faith for a purpose ask these questions:
1) What do I love to do?
2) What drives me crazy? (Problem do I want to solve)
3) What natural and supernatural gifts do I possess?
4) What do others see in me?
4) Joshua had training
Exodus 24: 12,13
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands so you can teach the people.” 13 So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God.
God called him to lead early on
He learned under Moses
Joshua 1:8
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
God will always place someone in your life to train you if you are willing to be trained
5) Joshua had a promise
God gave the land
God gave the resources to do it
Joshua 1:5
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.
6) Joshua had a work ethic
He understood the task
He rolled up his sleeves
God gave them the land but he didn’t tell all the other people to get out. God told His people to go in.
Joshua 1:6,7
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.
Deuteronomy 4:1
“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you. NKJV
Our Call today that is similar
Mark 16:15 -18
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”