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1 Sunday Night Message October 15, 2017 Joshua 1 – The Leadership Qualities of Joshua Series – Joshua Text – Joshua 1:6 - 9; 18; 24:15 - 16 Introduction to the Book of Joshua Joshua is the first of the twelve historical Books of the Bible. The breakdown of the Old Testament is as follows: 5 Books of the Law (Genesis – Numbers; also known as The Books of Moses; Pentateuch) 12 Books of History (Joshua – Esther) 5 Books of Poetry (Job – Song of Solomon) 5 Major Prophets (Isaiah – Daniel) 12 Minor Prophets (Hosea to Malachi) 39 Old Testament Books Total The name Joshua means “Jehovah is salvation”. It is the Hebrew equivalent of the name, “Jesus”. Joshua was “the son of Nun” from the Tribe of Ephraim. (Numbers 13:8) Joshua was most likely born in Egyptian slavery. He served as Moses minister (Exodus 24:13; Joshua 1:1) He remained separated from the apostate congregation of Israel when Moses was up on the mount with God. (Exodus 32:7 – 18) He and Caleb brought back a good report after spying out the land, whereas the other ten spies brought back an evil report. (Numbers 13:1 – 14:9) Twice, God said of Joshua that he had “the spirit”: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;" (Numbers 27:18) "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses." (Deuteronomy 34:9) It is believed that this Book was written around 1400 B. C. by Joshua (see Joshua 24:26), though some parts of the Book could not have been written by him. (Joshua 24:29 – 31) The author had to be an eyewitness of the recorded events. (Joshua 5:1 – “we”; 5:6 – “us”) Rahab the harlot hid two spies in chapter 2, and was still alive when the Book of Joshua was written, so it is likely that Joshua was written shortly after the events recorded in the Book:

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Page 1: SN 102217 Joshua 1 - Jersey Shore Baptist Church - God is Love€¦ · Joshua 1 – The Leadership Qualities of Joshua Series – Joshua Text – Joshua 1:6 - 9; ... He and Caleb

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SundayNightMessageOctober15,2017Joshua1–TheLeadershipQualitiesofJoshuaSeries–JoshuaText–Joshua1:6-9;18;24:15-16

IntroductiontotheBookofJoshua

Joshua is the first of the twelve historical Books of the Bible. The breakdown of the OldTestamentisasfollows:

5BooksoftheLaw(Genesis–Numbers;alsoknownasTheBooksofMoses;Pentateuch) 12BooksofHistory(Joshua–Esther) 5BooksofPoetry(Job–SongofSolomon) 5MajorProphets(Isaiah–Daniel) 12MinorProphets(HoseatoMalachi)

39OldTestamentBooksTotal

The name Joshua means “Jehovah is salvation”. It is the Hebrew equivalent of the name,“Jesus”.

Joshuawas“thesonofNun”fromtheTribeofEphraim.(Numbers13:8)JoshuawasmostlikelyborninEgyptianslavery.HeservedasMosesminister(Exodus24:13;Joshua1:1)Heremainedseparated from the apostate congregation of IsraelwhenMoseswas up on themountwithGod. (Exodus32:7–18)HeandCalebbroughtbackagood reportafter spyingout the land,whereastheothertenspiesbroughtbackanevilreport.(Numbers13:1–14:9)Twice,GodsaidofJoshuathathehad“thespirit”:

"AndtheLORDsaiduntoMoses,TaketheeJoshuathesonofNun,amaninwhomisthespirit,andlaythinehanduponhim;"(Numbers27:18)

"AndJoshuathesonofNunwasfullofthespiritofwisdom;forMoseshadlaidhishandsuponhim:andthechildrenofIsraelhearkeneduntohim,anddidastheLORDcommandedMoses."

(Deuteronomy34:9)

ItisbelievedthatthisBookwaswrittenaround1400B.C.byJoshua(seeJoshua24:26),thoughsomepartsoftheBookcouldnothavebeenwrittenbyhim.(Joshua24:29–31)Theauthorhadtobeaneyewitnessoftherecordedevents.(Joshua5:1–“we”;5:6–“us”)Rahabtheharlothidtwospies inchapter2,andwasstillalivewhentheBookof Joshuawaswritten,so it is likelythatJoshuawaswrittenshortlyaftertheeventsrecordedintheBook:

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"AndJoshuasavedRahabtheharlotalive,andherfather'shousehold,andallthatshehad;andshedwellethinIsraelevenuntothisday;becauseshehidthemessengers,whichJoshuasentto

spyoutJericho."(Joshua6:25)

TheBookhadtohavebeenwrittenbeforethereignofDavid.Joshuarecords:

"AsfortheJebusitestheinhabitantsofJerusalem,thechildrenofJudahcouldnotdrivethemout:buttheJebusitesdwellwiththechildrenofJudahatJerusalemuntothisday."(Joshua

15:63)

2Samuel5:5–9recordsthatDavideliminatedtheJebusitesfromJerusalem.

The context of this Bookprimarily dealswith the entering in of the People of Israel into thePromisedLandofCanaan.ThisBookpicksupwhereDeuteronomyleavesoff.GodtoldMosestochooseMosesforhisreplacement.(SeeNumbers27:12–23;Deuteronomy31:7-15)

AccordingtoRyrie:

ThebookdescribestheconquestanddivisionofthelandofCanaanandissetagainstthebackgroundofthe corrupt and brutal features of Canaanite religion, depicted clearly in the Ras Shamra Tablets.Prostitutionof both sexes, infant sacrifice, and religious syncretismwere someof the evils forwhichGod commanded the Israelites to exterminate the inhabitants of Canaan.Much of the later spiritualdeclensioninIsraelwasduetothefactthattheCanaaniteswerenotcompletelydestroyed.Asaresult,theirreligionwastoleratedandfrequentlyabsorbedbytheIsraelites.1

TheemphasisoftheBookisonthefaithfulnessofGodinkeepingHispromisetotheChildrenofIsrael;theholinessofGodinjudgingtheCanaanites,andtheimportanceoftheWordofGod.

I TheCommissionofJoshua(vs.1–4)

God promises to give to Israel the land thatHe had previously promisedMoses. The land isdescribedasextendingnorthwardtoLebanon,westwardtotheEuphratesRiver,southwardtothewilderness,andeastwardtoMediterraneanSea.(SeeMap)

II TheCourageandQualificationsNeededfortheJob(vs.5–9)

FourtimesinJoshuachapterone,GodadmonishesJoshuatobestrongandcourageous.Joshuahadaverydifficulttaskaheadofhim:hewastotakeoverforperhapsthegreatestleadertheworld had ever seen – Moses. He was to bring the congregation of Israel into the land ofpromise,andhewastoleadtheminbattleagainstalloftheinhabitantsoftheland.Thiswasahuge job foranyman,andGodwanted tomake sure that Joshuawasmentallyprepared forwhatlayaheadforhim.WhenwegettotheendoftheBookofJoshuaandtheendofJoshua’slife,weseethatJoshuaisstillagoodman;heisstillstandingfortheLord,andheisleadinghis1Ryrie,C.C.(1994).RyriestudyBible:KingJamesVersion(Expandeded.,p.335).Chicago:MoodyPress.

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house,hisfamily,hischildrentodothesame.

JoshuahaddemonstratedcourageandstrengthinhislifepriortohisbeinggiventhepositionastheleaderofthenationofIsrael,andcontinuedtomanifesttheseattributesthroughouthislifeasheledthepeopleofGod.ConsiderthethreequalitiesthatJoshuapossessedastheleaderofIsrael,andalsoastheleaderofhisfamily:

1 HeWasWillingtoServe.BeforehewasIsrael’sleader,hewas“Mosesminister”.Ittakesa strong and secureman to serve anotherman faithfully. Joshuawas the “behind thescenes guy” inmuch of the first five books of the Bible, butwe never read of JoshuamurmuringorrebellinginanywayagainsttheleadershipofMoses.HeservedMosesfor40yearsastheywanderedthroughthewilderness.

Thewordministermeanstoserve. Inordertoservesomeone,youneedtobehumble.Pridedemandstobeserved;pridedemandsthespotlight.Ittakesahumble,yetsecuremantoserve–mostofthetimesbehindthescenes,notreceivingthecredit.

"Butyeknowtheproofofhim,that,asasonwiththefather,hehathservedwithmeinthegospel."-(Philippians2:22)

"ForDavid,afterhehadservedhisowngenerationbythewillofGod,fellonsleep,andwaslaiduntohisfathers,andsawcorruption:"-(Acts13:36)

"ServetheLORDwithgladness:comebeforehispresencewithsinging."-(Psalm100:2)

Inordertoservesomeone,youwillalsoneedtobewillingtowork.TheBiblesaysthatifamandesirestheofficeofabishop,hedesiresagoodwork.Ifamanisgoingtoservehisfamily,hewill have to bewilling towork. Paul told themen at the church at Thessalonica that if theywouldnotwork,theyshouldnoteat.

2 HeWasaStudentoftheWordofGod.HewasanexpertintheLawthatGodhadgivenMoses.Godstatedthat the“Bookof theLaw”was inhismouth. (Joshua1:8)HeknewtheBible.HehadstudiedtheScriptureswithhismentorfor40years.

InorderformentoserveGod,wemustknowwhatGodexpectsofus.Wearebombardeddailywiththephilosophiesoftheworldsystemthatsurroundsus.MostofthesephilosophiesareincompletecontradictiontotheprinciplescontainedintheWordofGod.Wespendfartoomuchtimebeinginfluencedbytheworld,andnotenoughtimeallowingthewordofGodtoinfluenceus.

"Blessedisthemanthatwalkethnotinthecounseloftheungodly,norstandethinthewayofsinners,norsittethintheseatofthescornful.ButhisdelightisinthelawoftheLORD;andinhis

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lawdothhemeditatedayandnight.Andheshallbelikeatreeplantedbytheriversofwater,thatbringethforthhisfruitinhisseason;hisleafalsoshallnotwither;andwhatsoeverhedoeth

shallprosper.Theungodlyarenotso:butarelikethechaffwhichthewinddrivethaway.Thereforetheungodlyshallnotstandinthejudgment,norsinnersinthecongregationoftherighteous.FortheLORDknoweththewayoftherighteous:butthewayoftheungodlyshall

perish."-(Psalm1:1-6)

"Andthesewords,whichIcommandtheethisday,shallbeinthineheart:Andthoushaltteachthemdiligentlyuntothychildren,andshalttalkofthemwhenthousittestinthinehouse,andwhenthouwalkestbytheway,andwhenthouliestdown,andwhenthourisestup.Andthoushaltbindthemforasignuponthinehand,andtheyshallbeasfrontletsbetweenthineeyes.Andthoushaltwritethemuponthepostsofthyhouse,andonthygates."-(Deuteronomy6:6-

9)

Joshua’ssourceofstrengthwastheWordofGod:

"ForthewordofGodisquick,andpowerful,andsharperthananytwoedgedsword,piercingeventothedividingasunderofsoulandspirit,andofthejointsandmarrow,andisadiscerner

ofthethoughtsandintentsoftheheart."-(Hebrews4:12)

"Andthatfromachildthouhastknowntheholyscriptures,whichareabletomaketheewiseuntosalvationthroughfaithwhichisinChristJesus.AllscriptureisgivenbyinspirationofGod,andisprofitablefordoctrine,forreproof,forcorrection,forinstructioninrighteousness:ThatthemanofGodmaybeperfect,throughlyfurnisheduntoallgoodworks."-(2Timothy3:15-17)

"Thywordisalampuntomyfeet,andalightuntomypath."-(Psalm119:105)

"TrustintheLORDwithallthineheart;andleannotuntothineownunderstanding.Inallthywaysacknowledgehim,andheshalldirectthypaths."-(Proverbs3:5-6)

3 HeWas Faithful to Stand forGod. Back in Exodus,when the rest of the congregation,includingAaron,wasworshippingagoldencalf,Joshuawasseparatedfromthem,waitingpatientlyforthereturnofMoses.

When tenof thespiescamebackwithanevil reportafter spying the land, JoshuaandCalebcameback ready to fight.Theyknewthat theirGodwas far superior toanygiants thatwereopposingtheminthelandofCanaan.

Attheendofhislife,hewasabletosay,“Asformeandmyhouse,wewillservetheLord”.Hetoldhispeers,“Youdowhatyouwanttodo,butwearegoingtostandfortheLord”.

"WhereforetakeuntoyouthewholearmourofGod,thatyemaybeabletowithstandintheevil

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day,andhavingdoneall,tostand.Standtherefore,havingyourloinsgirtaboutwithtruth,andhavingonthebreastplateofrighteousness;Andyourfeetshodwiththepreparationofthe

gospelofpeace;Aboveall,takingtheshieldoffaith,wherewithyeshallbeabletoquenchallthefierydartsofthewicked.Andtakethehelmetofsalvation,andtheswordoftheSpirit,whichisthewordofGod:PrayingalwayswithallprayerandsupplicationintheSpirit,andwatching

thereuntowithallperseveranceandsupplicationforallsaints;"-(Ephesians6:13-18)

Thosethreequalities–serving,studying,andstanding-arethe ingredientsofagreat leader,andtheingredientsofagreatdad.Joshuawassomeonewhoknewwhatwasrighttodo,andwasstrongandcourageousenoughtodoit,evenwhentherestofthecrowdwaspushinghimand pressuring him to move in the other direction. We could use some more Joshua’s inAmericatoday.Wecoulduseafewmoregoodmen(andwomen).Areyouwillingtobeone?

Wearelivinginverydarkdays–“periloustimes”–Godsaystoyouandmetoday“bestrongandcourageous”–servemypeople,studymyWord,andstandforwhatisright.

III TheCommnadmentofJoshuatothePeople(vs.10–15)

A TotheOfficers(vs.10–11)

B TotheReubenites,Gadites,andtothehalf-tribeofManasseh(vs.12–15)

SeeNumbers32forthebackgroundtothisstory.

IV TheCooperationofthePeople(vs.16–18)

The people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh pledged complete obedience to Joshua. TheBackgroundtothisstorycanbefoundinNumbers32.[ThefollowingnotesweretakenfromamessageoriginalpreachedonMarch4,2012]

SundayMorningMessageMarch4,2012BeSureYourSinWillFindYouOutTopic–TheSinofDiscouragingText–Numbers32:1-23CongregationalReading–Numbers32:20-23

Introduction

Readv.23again

Explainhowthephrase“BeSureYourSinWillFindYouOut”iscommonlyused.

Examples:amanandwomancommittingadultery;achildcheatingona test (illustratewithsomeofthewayskidshavecheatedattheacademy(blueinkinaredbarrelpenat

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thegradingstation;gradingkeystakenhome;textmessagingduringtests)

AnysinthatamancancommitcanbeapplicabletothisBiblicalprinciple.

"Benotdeceived;Godisnotmocked:forwhatsoeveramansoweth,thatshallhealsoreap."-(Galatians6:7)

"Forthereisnothingcovered,thatshallnotberevealed;neitherhid,thatshallnotbeknown.Thereforewhatsoeveryehavespokenindarknessshallbeheardinthelight;andthatwhichyehavespokenintheearinclosetsshallbeproclaimeduponthehousetops."-

(Luke12:2-3)

Wecan’thideanythingfromGod–Heseesitall

Wenevergetawaywithanything.

However,intheimmediatecontextofthispassagethephrase“besureyoursinwillfindyouout”isnotusedinreferencetosomeactofimmorality–itisreferringtoagroupofpeoplediscouraginganothergroupofpeoplefromthefulfillmentofthewillofGod.

Beginreadinginv.1andexplainthestorybehindthephrase.(Refertomaps)

Transition

TheBiblehasalottosayaboutdiscouragingpeople:

"Butwhososhalloffendoneoftheselittleoneswhichbelieveinme,itwerebetterforhimthatamillstonewerehangedabouthisneck,andthatheweredrownedinthedepthof

thesea."-(Matthew18:6)

"Fathers,provokenotyourchildrentoanger,lesttheybediscouraged."-(Colossians3:21)

DiscouragingothersfromfulfillingthewillofGodfortheirlifeisasin.GodwantsustoliftupandencourageoneanothertodothethingsthatHehaswilledustodo.

ThismorningIwanttoconsiderthreewaysthatyouandIcanencourageeachotherinthewillofGod.

I YourAttendance(YourPresence-JustBeingThere)

"Letusholdfasttheprofessionofourfaithwithoutwavering;(forheisfaithfulthatpromised;)Andletusconsideroneanothertoprovokeuntoloveandtogoodworks:Notforsakingtheassemblingofourselvestogether,asthemannerofsomeis;butexhortingoneanother:andsomuchthemore,asyeseethedayapproaching."-(Hebrews10:23-

25)

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WehaverecentlystudiedinourWednesdayNightseriesonTheLifeandMinistryoftheLord Jesus Christ when our Lordwas about to be crucified, and then Hewas to soonascend intoHeaven.TheLordadmonished thedisciples tostick together– to loveoneanother–toassembletogether.

Yourpresencecanbeagreatencouragement.

Illustrate–churchplantersoftengetdiscouragedbecausetherearenotinitiallyalotofpeopleattendingtheirservices.

Illustrate–yesterdayagroupofuswentoutinthebusandknockedon159doors.

Illustrate–largeturnoutforMelissa’sfuneralwasanencouragementtotheStahls

II YourActions(YourParticipation)

As far as our corporate worship is concerned – when you come – participate in theservices.

1 SingthesongsofGod2 Greetpeople3 Lookforsomebodythatneedsencouragement4 Lookforvisitorsandhelpthemfeelcomfortable5 Bewillingtohelpout–nursery,ushers,greeters,juniorchurch,busworkers

anddrivers,soulwinners,disciplers,SSteachers,helpsetup,helpcleanup(Illustrate–BrotherBobF.helpedmecleanupafterthebanquet)

Getinvolvedinyourchurch–Yourparticipationisagreatwaytoencourageotherstogetinvolved–and themorepeopleweget involved– themorewewill beable towin toChrist,andthentraintowinothers.

III YourAttitude(YourPosition–BePositiveandSupportive)

The expression on your face can either be a source of encouragement or a source ofdiscouragementtothepeoplearoundyou.

Thewords that you saywill eitherpointpeople toChrist and thewill ofGod,orpointthemaway.

Youshouldnothavetomanufactureagoodattitudeartificially,either.Wehaveanawfullottobehappyabout.

LetyourfacebeanadvertisementforthegoodnessofGod.

Conclusion

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Illustration–RayChaney–alwayshadakindwordtosay–nevergotinvolvedinthejunkgoingaroundinthechurch.

Letyourattendance(presence),youractions(yourparticipation),andyourattitude(yourpositiveposition)beasourceofencouragementtothosearoundyou.

Map1–WanderinginWilderness

Map2LandDivisions

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Conclusion

AsweconcludeJoshuaChapterOne,let’sberemindedofwhatwehaveseen:

I TheCommissionofJoshua(vs.1–4)

II TheCourageandQualificationsNeededfortheJob(vs.5–9)

1 HeWasWillingtoServe.2 HeWasaStudentoftheWordofGod.3 HeWasFaithfultoStandforGod.

III III TheCommnadmentofJoshuatothePeople(vs.10–15)

A TotheOfficers(vs.10–11)

B TotheReubenites,Gadites,andtothehalf-tribeofManasseh(vs.12–15)

IV TheCooperationofthePeople(vs.16–18)

Asofnow,everythinglooksgoodforthepeopleofGod.

Israelhadnothingbutopportunityinfrontofthem.TheyhadaninvincibleGod,andawesomehumanleader,andwide-openlandbeforethem.AlltheyhadtodowastrustGodandobeyHim.Ifweweretostopreadingnow,wewouldbetemptedtothinkthateverythingwentaccordingtoplan.However,ourunderstandingofhumannatureandsinshouldhelpusrealizethatmanwouldlimittheunlimitedplanofGod.