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Strong And Corageous
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Dec 1, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: We can learn a lot about God from Joshua. Joshua was the new generation called of God to lead and not be future church but the church of right now.
Strong and Courageous
Joshua chapter 1:1-1:9
Introduction- Some parts of this sermon were gleamed from sermons on SermonCentral.
This morning we begin Advent
We have devotionals for you to help prepare you for Christmas season.
Next week we will begin Advent readings and the singing of Christmas songs.
I pray that this week you took me up on my challenge and you blessed someone you don’t normally bless with an act of kindness. This week kind of an unusual passage to begin Advent, but we can learn from Joshua and I hope (which is the first week of Advent) that it will be words of encouragement to you.
Years back there was a TV series called “Early Edition.”
The storyline was that this person was able to read tomorrows news today. He was able to know what was going to happen one day before it happened.
If you could do that, would you be willing to devote your life to helping people?
You would be able to save people lives, save heartaches, rescue people from numerous things.
How would you use that knowledge? Would you help or would you just use it for your benefit?
Buy stocks at a low price and sell high?
Some are obsessed with the future and trying to learn it- but they go about it the wrong way.
They choose crystal balls, Ouija boards, tarot cards, Psychic hotlines.
Solomon talks about it in Ecclesiastes 8:7 “Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?”
God can! He is the only one!
He gives us a glimpse of the future in His word and tries to direct our lives using that information.
We have concerns, He has answers.
We may not know all the future, but we know who holds the future.
Life upon this earth is uncertain, and at times unpleasant and we don’t know what will happen.
The farther we move away from God, the farther away is your solution. (Repeat)
The Book of Joshua chapter one is the transition of Moses the great to Joshua the apprentice. Moses is dead and Israel was getting a new leader to lead them into the Promise land of God.
It is a great example of what God wants to do in our lives when unexpected things happen and we are thrust into something bigger than we are.
Great Advent start because just like Jesus coming as a baby into the world to be savior, redeemer, it shows us that God will provide everything we need if we will not only let Him, but accept it from Him.
Joshua chapter 1:1-1:9
Joshua is installed as the new leader of Israel. Hang in there!
I know that not everyone is a leader, but God has direction for each of us this morning.
There are things as God’s people that we should and should not be doing. He gives us some don’ts here.
(Write these down)
1. Don’t Presume about tomorrow
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day may bring.” We do not know what tomorrow holds, it is why we must be ready and open to the things of God. Any day could be our last. Everyday involves risk and every day we should be grateful for the things that God gives us.
2. Don’t Panic or Worry about Tomorrow
Matt. 6:34-
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” There are things you can change and you should and there are things out of your control, and all the worrying you do will not change anything. I am glad God gives us life in small proportions, one day at a time. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. We think God is not listening, but truth is most times He doesn’t tell us everything at one time because we cannot handle it.
One bite at a time.
“ life by the yard is hard, but by the inch is a cinch!”
3. Don’t procrastinate about tomorrow
Tomorrow…, When I get…. Later, most of the time we will say we will get to it at another time- it doesn’t happen.
Don’t presume
Don’t panic/worry
Don’t procrastinate.
Moses is dead! Joshua heard that from God! Israel is now turning to him to lead them to the promised land of God.
We hear from the older generations
These younger kids will not lead the church.
If they do not pick up the mantle, we are one generation from extinction. That is true, but here , let’s call it what it is- the older generation, the disobedient generation has died off and the new generation is thrust into leadership position to lead.
Joshua knew in the promise land that there were at least 7 different enemies that wanted to destroy them. They were bigger, better trained, fortified enemies. But they did not have God’s blessing and God’s promise that He would deliver them into their hands.
