JOSHUA
PROMISES FOR VICTORY
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
Main Idea: God gives us promises to bring us victory
Magic; Paper tear – promise broken, restored
Change bag, rope cut in 3, restored (promise)
INTRODUCTION
What is a promise?
Promise – A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something; a vow. Indication of something favorable to come; expectation. Indication of future excellence or success.
Do you keep your promises?
Who comes to mind when you think of someone who keeps their promises?
Who comes to mind when you think of someone who doesn’t?
Which of these apply to God?
It is important to know a person keeps their promises
If not we are helpless and on our own.
PASTOR MOSES promised to pick me up at air port and did, or I’d still be there!
TRANSITION
GOD promised Joshua He’ pick him up and carry him into Promised Land
I. JOSHUA THE MAN
NEW LEADER – Joshua – 80 years old
MOSES HARD ACT TO FOLLOW!
Ex thru Deut – #1 leader
Ever follow very great, effecient leader? Esp if you are more ordinary, quiet man
SLAVE in Egypt
Joshua = Jehovah is Salvation
Same as Jesus in Greek
SOLDIER perhaps in Egypt, where got to know Moses
SERVANT Moses’ assistant, helper, in training since in Egypt
1 or 12 spies into land – only he & Caleb faithful
Tried to kill them and Moses
Had been wandering last 40 wasted years!
TRANSITION
Had to replace MOSES< great leader
Also lead into PROMISED LAND despite giants, etc.
Couldn’t do it on own so needed God’s help
II. JOSHUA’S COMMISSION
JOSHUA’S COMMISSION Joshua 1:1-9
1:1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:
2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them– to the Israelites.
Moses my servant is dead. Moses dead, but God’s purposes alive
God’s work doesn’t end when God’s servant dies
get ready to cross the Jordan River approaching from different direction than 12 spies
get ready to cross first test, river in flood stage, trust God to do this
no boats, bridge, fording place, etc.
first orders from God humanly impossible!
Learn faith obedience
into the land I am about to give to them — God owns it all, can give to whomever
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
I will give you = lit in Heb “I HAVE given you” – completed action in the past
“it’s money in the bank”
Promised in past to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses,
Knowing, believing God’s promises KEY to victory in battle
can’t have victory on own, only in HIM
Eph 1:3 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. (OUR similar promise – claim it
God has promised us all this land, God keeps His promises
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates– all the Hittite country– to the Great Sea on the west.
REPEAT of promise in Gen 15:18-21
I will give you every place where you set your foot
to possesses it must set foot on it
WARFARE to take what is theirs/ours!
must believe God’s PROMISE and enter the ‘land’ He has for you in faith!
If He promised it would happen it will – nothing in way!
5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.
Knew this in my head, but needed God’s word of
encouragement
Canaanites: giants, strongly fortified cities on mountains,
excellent soldiers
land ours for the taking – but taking means conflict, battle
same with us spiritually, fighting world, flesh, demonic
Satan roaring lion – but teeth & claws pulled by Jesus on cross
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you;
Get into the land same way got out of Egypt – God’s power and work
THE TASK AHEAD OF YOU IS NEVER AS GREAT AS THE POWER BEHIND YOU!
I will never leave you nor forsake you. Heb lit “i will not drop, abandon you”.
MOSES given this promise so could carry out God’s work
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deut 31:8
JOSHUA given same promise
ALL GOD’S PEOPLE GIVEN THIS PROMISE
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Heb 13:5
When God gives a command He also gives a promise:
Joshua: command to enter the land
promise we would have victory and it be ours
All His people – commanded to fight spiritual enemies
promised never be alone
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future 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. Romans 8:38-39
More commands & promises from God:
6 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
because you will lead these people to inherit the land PROMISE
basis for courage, strength
the land I swore to their forefathers to give them to Abraham, Isaac, PROMISED
TODAY not living on, enjoying all of it because not right with God!
PROMISES true, but not believing them, following God to victory
YOU = past promises in Bible still good
reason to be courageous now is that God keeps past promises
Be strong and courageous COMMAND
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. Ps. 23:4
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isa. 41:10
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
7 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.
Be strong and very courageous. COMMAND repeated again
Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; COMMAND to obey
Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, 100% total obedience in all things
that you may be successful wherever you go. Success only in obedience to God
NOT measured in $, position, popularity, things
ONLY measured by God, He looks at our obedience
OBEY God promises kick in, God brings victory
8 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.
TO BE “SUCCESSFUL” ie TO HAVE VICTORY IN THE BATTLES OF LIFE:
1. Do not let this Book of the Law; depart from your mouth TALK about it constantly
pass info & encouragement on to others
2. meditate on it day and night, THINK about it
Make it the foremost thing in your thoughts
Yellow “Post-It” notes everywhere in mind, thoughts!
Ps 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Ps 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
so that you may 3. be careful to do everything written in it. APPLY & OBEY IT
go to church (grow up in church) – know Bible – but must OBEY, DO IT!
Then you will be prosperous and successful. PROMISE:
THEN – if obey the COMMANDS, then PROMISES kick in
Army invading area: locals change signs, confuse landmarks, so army goes wrong way and doesn’t arrive at destination
SATAN confuses signs, etc., so think $, popularity, pleasure, not so: only when done in obedience
KEY to success = do God’s will, obey Him, battle world/flesh/devil with His promises
obey COMMANDS so PROMISES kick in!
9 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.”
Have I not commanded you? Remind to obey God’s commands, only way to victory
Be strong and courageous. THIRD time repeated
WAS strong/courageous: fighting A
willing to go into land when one of 12 spies
“Courage is knowing the worst — and discovering that, in God’s world, the very worst can’t really hurt you.”
Do not be terrified; COMMAND – Joshua felt afraid as saw it humanly speaking
do not be discouraged, COMMAND – Joshua felt weak, inadequate, etc
FAITHFUL, CONSISTENT in obeying, fighting attacks
PERSEVERANCE key to any victory
for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
God DOESN’T remove obstacles they will face
God DOESN’T minimize awfulness of those obstacles
God DOES promise His presence facing obstacles
same for us today
Faith is not the way around pain, it is the way through pain.
BATTLE BELONGS TO GOD
We follow through eyes of faith – believing is seeing
Take God at His word
Use the armor He gives us
Esp sword of the Spirit
THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Ps. 23:1-3
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Ps. 84:11
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19
I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Ps. 32:8
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9
He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Isaiah 40:29
Trusting God’s promises gave us victory in our battles, too
LIFE A SERIES OF BATTLES
VICTORY COMES BY GOD’S WORD, PROMISES
Commander provides the equipment, armor of God
our only way to victory
Only offensive weapon: SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
Eph 6:17
How Jesus defeated Satan when tempted
TRANSITION
God brings victory, but we must fight
Message of the rest of the book of Joshua
PROMISED LAND NEAR,
BUT MUST BATTLE TO ATTAIN IT!
Us as well
CONCLUSION
Man crawl over ice rive, wagon across, ice safe!
By resting completely upon Him and taking His promises at face value, we can drive out the paralyzing fear that hinders our effectiveness in serving Christ. The biblical antidote always works: “I will trust, and not be afraid.”
PRAYER PROMISES
PROMISES TO BELIEVE
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks shall find, and to him that knocks it shall be opened. … If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” Matthew 7:7,11
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it John 14:13-14
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
You will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you. Jeremiah 29:l2
He freely gives all things to us. Romans 8:32
CONDITIONS TO MEET
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Mt. 21:22
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him. John 5:14:15
You don’t have because you don’t ask. You ask, and don’t receive because you ask for the wrong purpose, that you may consume it upon your selfish desires. James 4:2-3
And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. I John 3:22
This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us; and if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. I John 5:14-15
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7
ALL OUR NEEDS MET
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Ps. 84:11
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Ps. 23:1-3
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Mt. 6:33
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19
I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
ANSWERED PRAYER
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Mt. 7:7
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Mt. 21:22
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. John 14:13
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it John 14:14
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him. John 5:14:15
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
You will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you. Jeremiah 29:l2
BLESSING THROUGH TRIALS
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. Ps. 126:5
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem. Isa. 66:13
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
You know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:3
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield. Ps. 91:4
“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him & honor him. With long life will I satisfy him & show him my salvation. Psalm 91:14-16
FAITHFUL WITNESS
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. Mt. 10:32
I promised that your house and your father’s house would minister before me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. I Samuel 2:30
FEAR
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Ps. 118:6
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. Ps. 23:4
Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Gen 15:1
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. Ex. 14:13
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isa. 41:10
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. Mt. 14:27
FORGIVENESS OF SIN
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Mt. 6:14
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me. Jeremiah 15:19
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
GUIDANCE
For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. Ps. 48:14
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Ps. 23:1-3
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Ps. 32:8
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isa. 42:l6
NEVER ALONE
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Gen. 28:15
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future 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. Romans 8:38-39
My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14
PEACE
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:7
REST
Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt. 11:28
My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14
REWARD FOR PATIENCE, FAITHFULNESS
But those who hope (wait upon) the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isa. 40:31
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Ps. 40:1-3
SECURITY IN CHRIST
I am the gate: whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. John 10:9
STRENGTH FOR WHATEVER COMES
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Phil. 4:13
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9
Your strength will equal your days. Deut. 33:25
He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Isaiah 40:29
VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor. 10:13