October 18, 2020

Obeying His Word

Preacher:
Passage: Joshua 1:7-8
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Our faith overcomes the world
    • To be strong in the Lord you need to obey the word of the Lord
  • Reading v7-8
  • Joshua has now taken over from Moses
    • 600'000 people
    • Untrained soldiers
  • If he is to have good success - the word of God must not depart from his mouth
    • v6
    • Example of Jeremiah and Moses
  • 'Be strong and of good courage' - x3 (v6, 7, 9)
    • Moses said the same - Deuteronomy 31:7-8
    • The people said the same - Joshua 1:18
  • There is a history of men being called to positions of leadership - examples
    • Deuteronomy 34:9
    • God equips them
  • Overview:
    • Not distorting but obeying God's word
    • Meditating, doing and prospering

Not distorting but obeying God's word (v7)

  • Reading v7
  • Deuteronomy 31:24-26
    • The Pentateuch kept next to the Arc of the Covenant
    • The ceremonial law had been passed on by Moses
  • Joshua had learnt that the word of God had to be followed in a correct way:
    • Nadab and Abihu
    • Sabbath keeping
    • Dishonouring of leaders
    • The consequences of people keeping God's word
    • Tithing
    • Division of the land
    • Cities of refuge
    • The judicial law
    • The building of the Temple
    • The Ten Commandments
    • The victory against the Amalekites
    • The blessings and curses of the law
    • The destruction of Jericho
  • Compare King Saul
    • Saul wanted to do things his way
    • Example of offering sacrifices, the battle against the Amalekites
  • Application:
    • God is calling us to exact obedience to His word
    • God enable us to obey
      • Joshua sought to live a life pleasing to the Lord
    • Do not be like Saul who could not see higher principles
      • Jesus taught His disciples the higher principles
    • To obey principally the spirit of the law - not to miss big issues to only obey small issues

Meditating, doing and prospering (v8)

  • Reading v8
  • Meditating:
    • Is different than reading or listening to the word of God
      • Example of the cow 'chewing the cud'
      • Are we 'chewing over' on the word of God?
      • Do we think about it 'day and night'?
    • Example of video on Facebook
    • How often do you listen to the world?
      • News
      • Friends
      • TV
    • How are they shaping your world view?
    • Is your mind being shaped by the word of God?
    • Colossians 3:16
    • Jeremiah 15:16
  • Doing:
    • We must meditate and do - v7, 8
    • We must first understand and then put it into practice
  • Prospering:
    • If we obey God, we will prosper
    • Not riches
    • Spiritual prosperity
    • The fruit of the Spirit
    • Example of David, Joseph, King Uzziah and King Hezekiah
    • Quote from Psalms
    • Joshua 21:44-45