Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Key text - v2
• Moses my servant is dead
  • He entered into heaven
  • Deut 34:8
  • Deut 34:10 ff
  • There will never be another like Moses
• God did not leave the people leaderless
  • Someone took Moses' place - Joshua (v1-3)
• We do not know what is coming in 2023
  • We may have Jordans, Jerichos and rests
    • Our Joshua (Jesus) will lead us
  • Could there be new territory and new ground for the gospel?
• Overview:
  • Commissioned
  • Commanded
  • Compliance

Commissioned

• A commission to Joshua and the nation (v2)
• Commissioned in two ways:
  • What he had to do
  • What he had to be

To do:

• v6 - To lead
  • 2 Cor 2:16, 3:5
  • A burden but a power from God
• v2 - Get ready
  • v2 - to cross the Jordan
  • A whole generation had gone by [wandering in the wilderness]
• v3 - Trust in God's promise
• v5 - Trust in God
  • He will never leave nor forsake
  • God will provide the victories
• Are we in similar shoes to Joshua for the next year?

To be

• v7 - Be courageous
  • Ex 17:13
• v7/8 - Be the people of the word of God
  • obey all the law
    • Most of God's law was now in the hands of the people
    • The Pentateuch had been given
  • meditate on God's word
• v8 - Be prosperous and successful
  • Called to be faithful - certainly
  • Should we also expect to be successful?
    • Meaning to act prudently
    • To be careful about God's word
    • Not 'health, wealth and prosperity'

Commanded

• v10 - Get ready
  * Joshua had to feed the people
  * We are to provide cash and food for the journey
  * To the local and global fellowship of Christ
• v11 - Take possession
  • Take possession of souls with the power of the gospel
    • Are we ready for this?
  • Are there other areas we need to posses?
    • The Canaan within our own souls
      • Examples of gossiping, unforgiving nature, jealousy, lust
    • God commands us to be rid of these
    • We must not make excuses
• v14 - Be united
  • Put on the full armour of God
  • Do not fight each other but the enemies of God
• v15 - Enter rest
  • 2021-2022 have been hectic and extraordinary years
  • We can rest in the arms of Jesus

Compliance

• v16 - The people agreed to do what Joshua had commanded
  • What does God want us to do for the next year?
    • Eph 4:22-24
    • To increase more in God and decrease in ourselves
  • As Christians we are to comply
• v17 - The people agreed to go wherever they were sent
  • Has God commanded you to the mission field, to the preaching ministry, maybe to something in your locality?
    • Isaiah - "Here I am, send me"
    • Personal example
  • Has God called you - have you responded?
  • Previously the people had disobeyed (40 years ago) - now they were responding in obedience
    • Do not let disobedience spoil your life
• v17 - God with/in us
  • The people wanted to see God in the lives of the leaders
  • Being a pastor, elder or deacon is a great responsibility
    • Pray for them
  • Do we see God in our leaders and in ourselves?

Closing Remarks