TITLE: Listening to the Right Voice
Text: Joshua 1
Theme: Overcoming the Grasshopper Complex
INTRODUCTION:
The voices you and I listen too can determine the success or failure of our mission in life.
The story is told of an American Battle ship that was fighting a storm at sea. On the radar, an unknown vessel was spotted directly in front of the battleship. Here is the transcript of the communication between the two vessels.
Battleship: unknown vessel, turn your vessel 10 degrees west
Unknown Vessel: negative, turn your vessel ten degrees
Battleship: unknown vessel, this is the USS battleship Arizona, turn your vessel around, NOW
Unknown Vessel: USS Arizona, we are a Lighthouse, your call.
The voice we listen to will determine the direction we walk and whether or not we will realize God’s promise in our lives. As Joshua looked over the landscape of the promised land, for the second time in his life there no doubt many voices vying for his attention.
God has promised us a life that is filled with His Presence and peace, a life that overcomes the shadows of sin and death with the brilliant Light of Jesus. God holds out the promise of a life that is said to be ’abundant’ and marked by freedom from slavery to sin. It is not just a better life for the present, but is fully realized in the gift of eternal life when this earthly sojourn is over.
The question is- how do we ’possess’ that promised life?
Some quickly say, "just receive it by faith." “Speak the word, and declare it to be”
It is true. True enough. The Bible declares that we ‘walk by faith and not by sight.’ Paul wrote that the ‘the word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’
Praise the Lord this is true! When you confess Jesus as your Lord and believe that He died for you, and has forgiven you your sins, and you receive by faith his gift of grace of forgiveness YOU ARE SAVED! Nothing added but joy and peace, nothing taken away, but sin and guilt. What a wonderful promise kept!
Nevertheless, Doesn’t James say that “Faith without works is dead?”
Does God only want me to simply believe His word and rest on His promise; Does He not expect some action on my part?
Well, the answer is both yes and no! If by ’effort’ we imply that we somehow save ourselves from sin with religious works and being very, very good, we are wrong. This promised new life is THE work of Christ, provided fully at His expense, the result of the gracious love of our Father.
The Apostle Paul I belive offers a balance to this controversy. HE reminds the Philippians ‘’…continue to work out you salvation with fear and trembling.” He is not saying to work for your salvation. In other words now that you are saved, keep at it. Do not give up on your faith. Now that you have received the promise, you have believed the promise, continue to live out the word of promise in your everyday life, because,
‘It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” ( Philippians 2:12-13)
Did you hear that? From beginning to end of your life, it is all GOD. In Him we live, move and have our being.
That said, we cannot ignore the Bible’s command to us that we ’take possession’ of this new life. There is more to living the Christian life than merely believing, receiving and resting. God wants us to move on towards living, walking and possessing the promises of His new life everyday.
How do we possess God’s promises? Our journey begins as we lift up our heads and
1. Look to the future! {Read v. 1-2}
"Moses is dead!" Joshua had served Israel and Moses as his assistant for 40 years! He was accustomed to taking orders, to implementing the vision of another. There is absolutely no reason to think that Joshua had anything but real affection for Moses. But, 40 years of history was OVER! The partnership that had worked so well for so long was OVER!
A.W.Tozer makes this commentary regarding Joshua and the task to which God had called him to achieve.
We cannot think rightly of God until we think of Him as always being there, and there first. Joshua had this to learn. He had been so long the servant of God’s servant Moses, and had with such assurance received God’s word at his mouth, that Moses and the God of Moses had become blended in his thinking, so blended that he could hardly separate the two thoughts; by association they always appeared together in Joshua’s mind. Now Moses is dead, and lest the young Joshua be struck down with despair, God spoke to him with assurance, “AS I was with Moses, so I will be with you.’ Moses was dead, but the God of Moses still lived. Nothing had changed; nothing had been lost. Nothing of God dies when a man of God dies. ( Tale of the Tardy Oxcart p.333)
Joshua might easily have let himself be paralyzed by grief, by sentimentally longing for a return to the time when someone else was carrying the burden. So God shocks him into action with a stark declaration - "Moses is dead! Now get ready."
I am at a new stage as a dad. It used to be, that I was the hero of the family. I will never forget when I came home from a golf tournament with the trophy for being the ‘most honest golfer” Phil was so excited ’My Dad got the highest score” Well, now he knows having the highest number is not how to win golf tournaments.”
Now my kids are adults. I can no longer tell them the same jokes without their eyes rolling in the back of their heads. I can no longer say, “Because I SAY SO!” without some rational reasoning. I am now talking to my kids ( when they let me talk to them); as adults. Boy is it ever strange.
But, what a fool I’d be to try to re-create those child like memories in my life. It’s over! They will never be 4 or 10 again! But, There is a future for me as a Dad. It’s called grandpa. (Which I pray is a few ore years from now.)
In order to discover the joys of this stage of my life, I must be willing to let go of the past.
Yesterday’s gone! Paul put the necessity of facing the future in a word picture that makes it pretty clear.
"Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. The NKJV calls it “Rubbish or garbage”…’What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I considre them rubbish, that I may gain Christ…I press on…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 3:7, 9, 12b, 13-14)
There are some people who will not move forward because they spend their time RELIVING the glories of PAST Victories. You know the type! All they do is ramble on about past awards, attainments or accolades.
BUT IT IS THE PAST
Then there are those who live in REGRET over missed opportunities that cannot be regained. Their mantra is “If only I…had gone to college,…accepted that job…I had moved to that city…married that person..or not married that person
BUT IT IS THE PAST
Or perhaps you are living in REMORSE over a past sin….Your mantra is if only I had found the Lord sooner…
Well, yes we all would love to say “If only I had known the Lord sooner. But YOU KNOW HIM NOW! And your PAST IS OVER< UNDER THE BLOOD, YOU ARE FORGIVEN
In fact the Bible says that NOW The Lord declares you justified, a true redeemed son/daughter of God.
Your Past is PAST, The first key to possessing the promise is ‘Look to the future”
The next thing we need to do is GET UP and….
2. Get Ready For Battle: {Read v. 2b-4}
Joshuas marching orders were simple, "Cross into the land... march through it, taking what I’ve already given to you...."
As soon as Isreal crossed into the borders of Canaan, war was declared. For Isreal to possess the land they had to get up and fight for the land.
Here is a short preview of the struggles that accepting the title deed to the land would entail for the Isrealites;
a. Conflict: The cities of Canaan were not about to roll over and play dead. The moment Isreal crossed into the borders of Canaan, war was declared. Each city would have to be taken individually. And each city was determined to see Isreal fall. Your enemy is the Devil and his demonic hoard. Their mission statement is simple. To steal, kill and destroy…YOU. But take heart, because Jesus declared Satans demise. He said, I am building my church and even the GATES OF HELL will not prevail against it.
b. Time: The conquest of Canaan took about forteen years to complete. It was not a matter of walking in the park and setting up a pic nic table. The war, Jesus decalred was won on the cross. However, Satan will continue his assault daily against us. Until Jesus returns there will constantly be battles to fight and win in Jesus name.
c. Unity: No single Isrealite could win this war alone. In fact all 12 tribes were commanded to fight together as one army. One of the weakness of the church in North America is the sin of individualism. We are determned and conditioned to live the Christian life on our own terms. We think that because our relationship with God is personal, all our battles must be personal too. We need to understand that No man lives to himself. No man dies to himself.. everyone of us contributes to the strength or weakness of our church.
Joshua knew what God’s promise was and he determined to live in it! He had seen, first hand, the result of being wishy-washy, double-minded about God’s directions. 40 years before, he was one of 12 spies that went into Canaan to check it out in preparation for conquest. When he returned, he and his buddy, Caleb, gave a glowing report of the land that they thought they were going to own in a few months. Then, the ’yes, but’ guys spoke up. "It’s a great land, but..." They proceeded to magnify the problems, focus on the difficulties even as they minimized God’s promises. You know the way that worked out. The Israeli’s wandered around in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years while that whole generation died off and were buried in the desert that they preferred over God’s promise! ( Scott/sermoncentral)
There is a danger which every Christian going to ‘war’ needs to be aware of. To possess the promise of God, we need to grow out of our complacency and confront the enemy that is poised to destroy us.
You see, after forty years of wondering in the desert, the danger was that the people would grow complacent. They would have been complacent for a couple reasons. To begin with they had the comfort of knowing that every morning, when they woke up Manna would miraculously appear. God provided for their daily needs in the desert. They had nothing to worry about. No work, other than picking up the Manna and eating it.
The Apostle Paul wrote that he had learned to be content in any and all circumstances, knowing that God would meet his needs. But there remains a subtle danger for the child of God in growing too comfortable. For contentment can turn to complacency without us even realizing.
A.W.Tozer wrote, ‘Contentment with earthly goods is a mark of a saint; contentment with our spiritual state is a mark of inward blindness. One of the greatest foes of the Christian is religious complacency…”( Tales of the Tardy Oxcart p.260)
Another reason they were content was they were that much older than when they first started on their journey. This was the second generation to confront the challenge of Canaan. When they first started on their journey they were a nation of young adults, no older than twenty except for Caleb and Joshua. Now they were forty years older, wiser, and cynical.
I used to think that as I grew older in the Lord, I would become more zealous and faith filled. But to my sadness, I have discovered with age I am slower, not as coordinated, and less likely to launch out in faith. There is an ever greater danger to becoming complacent and relaxing in my faith.
On the other hand, I have discovered that the older I get, the more determined the enemy is to trip me up and destroy me. His attacks are as relentless today as when I first began my walk of faith almost 40 years ago now.
You see, like the Isrealites we must make a decision to confront the challenges that stand between us and spiritual progress. We cannot avoid the enemy and expect him to go away. We must take the risk of spiritual conflict.
The good news is this, with every challenge God calls me to confront HE gives an equally powerful promise. Listen to the promise God gives Joshua,
I will give you every place you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”
Just to make sure that Joshua understood the title deed was his, God put the promise in the PAST TENSE. ‘I have given it to you…”
A little boy came to the Parliament buildings in Ottawa and noticed an RCMP guard standing by the front entrance.
‘I want to buy it. The Young man declared.
How much do you have? The guard asked
One Loonie. The boy answered
You need to understand three things, the guard explained.
First, one loonie is not enough to purchase the parliament buildings, in fact 35 million loonies is not enough.
Second the parliament buildings are not for sale.
And third, if you are a Canadian citizen you already own it.
How often do you and I ask God for blessings that are already ours in Christ Jesus. Paul wrote,
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ( Eph.1:3 NIV)
It is absolutely crucial that we remember there is a vast difference between knowing about what is legally ours and experiencing them. Knowing a promise is different from claiming it,
Here is the quandry that you and I experience. We know about the promise. We claim the promise as ours, yet we do not realize the fulfillment of the promise. How many Christians do you know who still seem to lives as spiritual war victims, then victorious war heroes?
Satan does not and will not lay down his arms as long as you and I are alive. No matter where I am in my spireitual journay, I need to be prepared for battle.
Our marching orders are the same as Joshua’s, "Cross into the land... march through it, taking what I’ve already given to you...."
3. The key then is to always live in humble submission and obedience to God’s word. ( Read v. 6-8)
Men, have you ever noticed that… We can be afraid to ask for directions.
Simply, Joshua was not to be caught being stupid. This meant that his mind was to be exercised by God’s Word. Through continual meditation, Joshua was to delve deeper into the meaning of God’s Word. Then he would understand its spiritual depth and be able to follow it meticulously without neglecting the smallest part.
As a result, he would know God better. He would know what God desires and have a clearer understanding of His call on his own life.
This is so important to us as well. If we are to possess the courage to move forward, we must not rely on our own wisdom. We cannot rely on our own strength and assets.
Instead, we must study the Word in the realization that if we do not study God’s Word, every challenge that comes our way will seem impossible.
The Psalmist David rejoiced in God’s word. In Psalm 119: 105 he testified,
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’ In other words, God’s word will prevent me from getting lost and falling off the side of the road.
The Bible also says that I do not need to second guess what He says. ‘All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ( 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV)
In Hebrews 4:12 the Word is described as, ‘…Living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’(NIV). This means that when I want to be able to discern whether my motives and attitudes are right, then God’s word will confirm it.
Before we go on and conclude this message let’s recap. Moses has died. The Lord has commissioned Joshua to succeed Moses, and lead Israel into the land of Promise. The Lord Commands Joshua to LOOK TO THE FUTURE; Get up from the place of complacency and comfort and GET READY TO DO BATTLE. The success of their mission will be contingent upon humble submission and obedience to God’s word.
Now, there is one more key that Joshua would need in order to be successful. No doubt he was filled with questions. I have often wondered what Joshua might have been thinking as he looked over the land from atop that mountain.
What if he was too old and weak to fight. He was older and his troops were 40 years older than when they first were called. Would they have the strength and stamina to stand up against the enemy?
What if the people turned back in fright just like their fathers had done the first time?
What if he really didn’t hear from God, and all this was a fabrication of his own mind?
Without his questions being voiced, the Lord overcomes all Joshua’s fears with this promise in verse 5,
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you…v9 continues the promise ‘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. (NIV)
The final key in making the promises real is to
4. Stay in His powerful Presence! {read v. 5}
Obedience is fundamental to enjoying the Presence of God. If you’re openly rebellious against Him, the Spirit will withdraw His comfort from you. If you resist the conviction of the Word, you will grow distant from God’s presence. If you nurture ungodly attitudes like pride, unforgiveness, greed, or sensuality - God’s Spirit will not be near to you!
God encouraged Joshua to be ’strong and courageous.’ What he about to do was going to ask for every bit of strength he had, and then more! There was no way Joshua could do it alone, or by his own skills.
Powerful peace is found in the Presence of God. His Spirit produces a serenity that allows us to rise above situations that cause others to panic and thus, to be filled with fear or to fall apart.
I am aware of so many moments in my life when I have let life’s circumstances steal God’s peaceful Presence, and thus His power, from me. When I attempt to exert control over situations, when I try to impose a ’peace’ of my own design, things usually get worse!
Have you shared that experience? In the middle of a stressful day, have you ever exploded, only adding to your own stress and that of others? In the middle of a crisis, have you tried to force a solution and created more chaos with your efforts? I am guilty!
But when I take time to re-center myself in the Spirit asking that He come into my mind and heart - peace follows. Often the situation remains exactly the same, but I am changed.
The Apsotle Paul understood what spiritual warfare and fear were all about. In assessing his life, Paul writes to the Philippians with these sage words of wisdom,
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(4:6, TNIV)
Don’t misunderstand what God desires of you.
God was not inviting Joshua to a nice retirement community on the Mediterranean Sea. He wasn’t offering Joshua a rocking chair. He was handing him a commission in His army, a challenge to possess the Promised Land and build a new nation!
His will is not that you detach yourself from reality, that you run away from life, or escape into denial. He wants us to be fully engaged with life, bringing order to chaos, healing to the broken, resisting evil wherever it makes its ugliness apparent. But, in the spiritual warfare of this Christian life, He also wants us to be people who live in His Peaceful Presence!
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Which direction are you facing in life - yesterday or tomorrow? It’s a key question for those who want to possess the promise!
The key to your success is found in, Whose voice are you listening too?
Like Joshua there are many voices vying for my attention.
If he listened to his emotions he would remain content in the desert. If he could hear the whispers of the Canaanites he would be intimidated. If he heard the criticisms of his troops he would be distracted. Only if he heard the voice of God would he have the courage to do what seemed impossible. ( Lutzer, p.38)
The key is when we look up and look to the future; Standup and get ready for battle; Move on with our feet firmly grounded in God’s word; Live in God’s Peaceful Presence
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Resources:
Overcoming the Grasshopper Complex, Erwin Lutzer
The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart, C.Swindoll
NIV Study Bible
Sermoncentral.com/ sermons/ Jerry Scott
