ANTIOCH CHURCH OF CHRIST

Joshua 1:2-9

Intro: As a basis for our study turn to Joshua 1:2-9 "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Moses has died. Joshua is beginning his leadership of the children of Israel. He is to lead them into the Promised Land. There are certain principles that would be necessary for Joshua to possess and to adequately lead them into the land. These principles are also necessary for all Christians.

GOD HAS GIVEN US THE LAND.

A. We must cross the Jordan.

1. As used here, we refer to death.

a. Heb. 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

b. 2 Sam. 14:14 "For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.”

c. James 4:14 "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

2. Death is not victorious over the Christian.

a. 1 Cor. 15:57 "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

b. It is simply a loosing to a better life; Phi. 1:23 "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”

B. To receive the land, we must live obediently to God and His Word.

1. 2 The. 1:6-9 "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey [present tense—continue to obey] not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

2. 1 Pet. 1:22 "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”

3. Heb. 5:8-9 "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey [present tense—continue to obey] him;”

4. Our obedience begins with baptism.

a. Rom. 6:17-18 "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the

heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

b. Rom. 6:3-4 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

II. God WILL BE WITH YOU.

A. He will not fail us.

1. God will always be there, ready to help.

2. Throughout the New Testament God says, "If you will put your trust in me, I will be with you, I will protect you, I will not let you be tempted above that which you are able.”

3. 1 Cor. 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way

to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

B. He will not forsake us.

1. He will not leave us.

2. 2 Cor. 4:9 "Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”

3. Heb. 13:5-6 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

III. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. A. Strong.

1. Our strength can only come from the Lord.

2. Eph. 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

3. Phi. 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

4. Mat. 13:31-32 "Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”

5. 2 Tim. 2:1 "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

B. Courageous.

1. Meaning—"That quality of mind which enables one to face dangers, difficulties, threats, pain, etc., without fear; bravery, boldness, intrepidity, pluck.”

2. Rom. 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

3. 2 Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

C. Joshua would face many strong enemies.

1. Thus, he not only needed to be strong but courageous.

2. We as Christians face strong enemies and need the same type of attributes.

a. We are in a great fight; 1 Tim. 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

b. Our enemy is strong; Eph. 6:11-13 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

IV. DO ACCORDING TO THE LAW.

A. Do not turn from the law.

1. Do not turn to the right or the left.

b. We do not have the right to bind something God has not bound, nor to loose

something God has not loosed.

2. Do not alter God’s law.

a. Deu. 4:2 "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

b. Gal. 1:6-9 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

c. 2 John 9 "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”

B. Meditate on it.

1. To meditate is to think upon, use your mind, and muse upon what you have studied.

2. Psa. 1:2 "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

3. Psa. 119:97 "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”

4. Psa. 119:15 "I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.”

C. So that you will prosper and have success.

1. In this life.

a. John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they

might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

b. Mat. 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these

things shall be added unto you.”

c. Mark 10:29-31 "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left

house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”

2. In the afterlife.

a. 1 Cor. 15:19 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

b. 2 Tim. 4:7-8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Conclusion: When we are strong and courageous to do according to God’s law; then God will be with us and give us the promised land of heaven when we die.