Be StrongFollow the Leader

Chapter 2Joshua 1

• Warren W. Wiersbe– Successors twice

• Calvary Baptist Church in Covington, Ky• Back to the Bible in place of Epps in Nebraska

• To encourage: to put heart into• God Encourages His Leader (1:1-9)

– Encouragement from God’s commission (1-2)• New beginning with new generation and

leadership• New challenge: entering & conquering the

Promised Land– Criticized, persecuted, & attacked because of

divine commission, but people will not follow

• “A work originated by God & conducted on spiritual principles will surmount the shock of a change of leadership & indeed will probably thrive better as a result.” Oswald Sanders

• A wise leader doesn’t completely abandon & his individuality must be maintained.

• Joshua learned to obey as a servant before he served as a general; a servant first & then a ruler (Matt 25:21)

• “He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander” Aristole

• God’s commission to Joshua: lead the people into the land; defeat the enemies; & claim the inheritance

• Joshua, a type of Jesus Christ, the Captain of salvation (Heb 2:10)

– Encouragement from God’s promise (3-4)• God’s people live on promises, not

explanations• Israel would enter the land (3-6)

– Responsibility to step out by faith & claim it» Full potential in reign of David & Solomon

– Eph. 1:3 “all spiritual blessings … in Christ” by faith– Impossible to stand still in Christian life & service

for when you stand still, you immediately start going backward

– “Let go on” (Heb 6:1)

• Victory over the enemy (5)– If Israel obeyed the Lord, He promised to help them

defeat the nations– Warning not to compromise– Chastening (Judges 1-2)– “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will

never leave nor forsake you.” Josh 1:5)

» Heb 13:5» Move forward in God’s will & be assured of His

presence» “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Rom

8:31)» Warren’s first pastorate: I Chronicles 28:20

• He would divide the land as inheritance for the conquering tribes (6)

– “Not one thing has failed of all good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you.” (Josh 23:14)

– God’s promises are the prods, not pillows

– Encouragement fro God’s written Word (7-8)• Joshua’s strength : courage from meditating

on God’s Word, believing its promises, & obeying its precepts

• Written word of God’s words & acts (Deut 31:9; Gen – Deut: 5 books comprised the book of the law)

• Meditating: mutter (Ps 1:2)• Reading the Scriptures aloud (Acts 8: 26-40)• Prosperity & success from devotion to God &

His Word, not by the world standard– “In whatever man does without God, he must fail

miserably, or succeed more miserably” George McDonald

– Encouragement from God’ commandment (9)• “For with God nothing is impossible” ( Luke

1:37)• For no word from God shall be void of power

(ASV)

• The Leader Encourages the Officers (1:10-15)– Moses assembled the leader s to give

orders, not asking for advice• Kadesh Barnea• Jordan River• Joshua: the words of faith & encouragement

– “ You will pass over! You will possess the land! The Lord will give it to you!”

• The only way the ministry move on by conducting few funerals

– Example pastor’s friend– The older we get, more danger there is: sanctified

obstructionist– The matter of faith, not age

• 2 ½ tribes (Num 32)– (136,930 men; only 40,000 fought (Josh 4:13)– “Borderline believers” close to inheritance, but

never claim it

• The Officers Encourage Their Leader (16-18)– They – officers– Assuring him of their complete

obedience (16-17a)• “Command us and we will obey! Send us

and we will go!”• Luke 9:57-62, men not following Jesus• To disobey the servant was to disobey the

Master

– Praying for him (17)• “The Lord thy God be with you, as he was

with Moses.”• Pray daily for the leaders• No Christian workers succeed to the glory of

God apart from prayer• Steering wheel or spare tire?

– Assuring him that obedience was a matter of life or death (18)• Seriously• Achan

– “But why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:6)

– Not feel like it, convenient, or get something out of it

– Reminding him of the Word of God (18b)• “Be of good courage” (Num 13:20, Duet

31:7, 23, Josh 1:8)• 4 times: “be of good courage” (6-7,9, 18)• “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of

his might” (Eph 6:10)• The first step toward winning the battle &

claiming our inheritance: let God encourage us and then for us to encourage others

Be Strong! The battle is the Lord’s!