You can make it | Joshua

INTRODUCTION

Thoughts and feelings are something that come very naturally to all of us. Many times, we get very overwhelmed by the things going on in our life. We become overpowered by many thoughts about our careers, children, finances, health, and thoughts about the future. Yet there are many of us who think about these and are overwhelmed by fear. The fear of rejection, fear of the future, and fear of what other people might be saying about us. And we feel so concerned with these feelings that it gets to interfere with the quality of our lives.

HF: By the grace of God, you can overcome every hindrance and finish what you have started. This morning we are going to see how God guides us when we are fearful about our future.

Understand anytime you try to make any progress in life the devil does not like it. He is there out to frighten and put fear into you. It is how Satan keeps people from going forward. He puts the fear future into people.

Joshua was one such man. When Moses died the mantle of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land fell upon him.

Joshua 1:1-2 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.

Fear would have gripped Joshua when he had to take up leadership responsibility. Can you imagine having to fill the shoes of Moses? Taking the place of a man who could speak to God through a burning bush, cast down his rod and have it turn into a snake, and then retrieve it and find it a rod again. Can you imagine being the predecessor of a man that could stretch out his rod and divide the Red Sea, a man that could bring water out of a rock when the people died from thirst? It was tough to fit into the shoes of Moses. Joshua had a personal problem handling the leadership.

Joshua also had problems with people. He now finds himself the leader of a group of people known for murmuring, complaining, backsliding, and wishing they were back where they came from.

Today maybe you are facing opposition in what God has called you. Maybe you are carrying a big load. Maybe you are facing a crisis in life now. You are wondering how things will end up in your life. I want to tell you; you can make it. God looked at Joshua and said, “You are the Man I have chosen to lead these people.”

Can you imagine the thoughts that would have gone through the mind of Joshua? “Will people accept me, what will people say, I do not know the way, I am afraid what will happen, there are so many battles to be fought.” Every thought that we have in crisis would have come to Joshua. How could Joshua go forward and fulfill this awesome task? The answer can be found when Joshua and the children of Israel were standing in front of river Jordan.

Joshua 3:1-3 1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shitt1im and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.

So, God is basically telling here that Joshua you have a new challenge ahead of you. Yes, you are going to go to a new place, unknown territory, new enemies, new leadership and you are overwhelmed with thoughts of fear. You just got to do one thing – follow the ark. Wait for the ark and when you see the ark move. Just follow the ark.

In the OT it was the Ark of the Covenant that they were supposed to follow. Now what is the Ark of the Covenant? The Ark of the Covenant was placed inside the most holy place in the tabernacle.

Hebrews 9:4-5 4 The ark of the covenant contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover.

The ark contained 4 items – Golden jar of manna, Aaron’s budded rod, tablets of commandments, or the book of the law and above the ark was the cherubim of glory. It was in the ark where the presence of God dwelt. Interestingly, each of the items inside the ark point to Christ. It showed God. So, God is basically telling Joshua if you want to make it to what I have called you for, then follow the ark, follow me. If you follow others you will fail, but follow me I will lead you.

We always have new challenges in life. God often leads us in new paths in life and when we go through those paths we usually do not know about the future. God is telling follow me; I will lead you through those paths. There are many of us here who are afraid of the challenges, you are fearful about your future. But God is encouraging us today to step out and be bold enough to follow the leadership of God. He will give you victory.

Joshua 3:4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. God is telling Joshua of course you have not traveled through this way before, so I will travel in front of you and you just got to follow me. See, God is very interested in leading us; he is bothered about showing you the way. If you want to know the way, then walk after God.

Remember in the NT the presence of God is not in the Ark of the Covenant. The presence of God is in us.

1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains with you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

So, God is in us, his anointing is in us, his anointing teaches us and guides us. God wants you to make progress and he is there to guide you. So do not live a boring, narrow, and compromising life when there is a wonderful life available for you if you step out following Christ. Come on God has a great way ahead for you, be bold to follow Him.

Our victory is always in the forward progress.

When you take steps to follow God, he will give you the victory. The first 2 hurdles that Joshua faced was river Jordan and Jericho. In both these hurdles one of the main things that gave them victory is that they were progressing ahead.

Do you know what divided river Jordan? Joshua 3:14-15 14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing.

Joshua 3:17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

In Joshua chapter 6 we can find the children of Israel in front of the fortified city of Jericho. We know the story that the armed men of Israel marched around Jericho one time for six days. On the seventh day they marched around the city seven times and when they shouted with the trumpet blast the walls came down. Do you know what really brought the walls down?

 Joshua 6:1-4 1 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark.

I believe what gave the children of Israel the victory over Jericho was that the Ark of the Covenant was traveling with them. The ark made Jericho fall. The presence of God in your life gives you victory. Your victory is not where you are, your victory is always in your forward progress. If you decide to follow God, he will give you victory over every circumstance you face.

Now listen. As much as the Ark of the Covenant gave them victory, the ark also was the reason for their defeat later. If you go some years ahead in the history of Israel in 1 Samuel 4, we have a mention of Israel fighting the Philistines. Israel thinking the ark will give them victory again brought the ark into the battlefield, but this time the people of Israel had sinned.

1 Samuel 4:5-6 5 When the ark of the LORD’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?”

 This time also they followed the same pattern of shouting when the ark came.

See what happens: 1 Samuel 4:10-11 10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty-thousand-foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. Incidentally Israel was defeated and the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the enemy.

Victory is ours provided we are holy. As much as God is willing to lead us, he can give us victory provided our lives are holy and pure. The children of Israel sinned, lost the presence of God, and lost the battle. David prayed in Psalm 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. David knew sin can take away the presence of God and result in defeat, failure, and fear.

The ark finally returned to Shiloh and stayed there 90 years. In 2 Samuel 6 we find David taking the initiative to bring the ark back to Jerusalem. Now after making Jerusalem fit to bring the ark, David went and got the ark out of the house of Abinadab where it had been staying. Abinadab’s sons Uzzah and Ahio, were given the honor of driving the cart. Remember, there were strict instructions on how the ark had to be handled because it contained the holiness of God. The ark had to be carried on the shoulder of the Levites with poles. The ark was to go ahead and people had to follow. Instead, they put the ark on a cart and tried to drive it around to Jerusalem. As the journey was almost over, the oxen stumbled, the ark looked like it was about to fall, and Uzzah reached out to keep it steady, and fell down dead.

Follow the ark, never drive the ark.

God means business. No one can lead God; no one can take his place. God says I will lead, you are to follow. Many times, we try to put God in a cart and carry him around wherever we go. We manipulate things and use the name of God. Monday to Saturday we carry God in a cart. We go wherever we want to go, talk whatever we want to talk, and do whatever we want to do. Sunday morning, we let God lead us. No, God does not want to follow you, you are to follow God.

When you are willing to follow God, he will direct you.

Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they follow me.” God is promising us that when we step out in what God is leading us to do, he will guide us every step of the way. But God is not going to tell you about the next move or the next day before you make the first move in following God.

Isaiah 45:2 I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. Remember wherever we go there is always opposition; there is always a plan the enemy has against us. But God promises us that he will go before us, prepare the way, prepare the people, prepare the money, all before us. We just got to follow God he will do things beautifully for us.

Be committed to following God. God is calling many people out. He is sensing fear of failure in many of you. Be bold and step out, I will give you the victory says the Lord.

Follow God, never follow people.

People whom you love can still derail you, hate you, talk against you, so follow God.

Psalm 3:6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.

Psalm 27:3 Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though war breaks out against me, even then I will be confident.

Psalm 118:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

God is telling stop looking for the approval of the people just follow God. When everything is coming against you, follow God. David felt fear when he said this, but he is telling faith here. When everything comes against us from the outside, let faith come out from our heart because God is in us.

I remember the time when the disciples were struggling in the sea at night against the waves and the wind. Jesus went to them walking on the lake. They mistook him for a ghost but Jesus said, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” Peter immediately said, “Lord if it is you, I want to walk on the water and come to you.” Jesus said come.

Peter got out of the boat. I love the boldness of Peter. He stepped out because Jesus called him. Yes, he failed when he looked at the waves, but he never drowned. Peter attempted what no other disciples attempted. He was bold and courageous, he never drowned or failed. God likes the spirit of boldness that says I am going to step out and go forward; I am not going to live in fear.

David was a small boy and one day his father asked him to take some grains and bread for his brothers in the war camp. As David reached the camp his brothers were already in the battle line. David was bold; he kept the supply aside and walked straight into the battlefield. As he was talking with his brothers, Goliath, the Philistine, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear. David out of the whole army of Israel was confident and bold. I like his response, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” See what David said to Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:45-47 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” David was bold, he followed God and God gave him the victory.

Look at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar asked them to serve his gods and worship the image of gold. These guys were very bold. They never bowed down to foreign gods and accepted the punishment – to be thrown into the blazing furnace.

Daniel 3:19-25 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

They went in bound and came out loose. When you boldly and courageous stand for Jesus he is there with you. Follow God. God says, “When you walk through the waters, I will be with you, when you pass through rivers, they will not sweep you, when you walk through fire you will not be burned.”

CONCLUSION

As I am speaking to you maybe some of you are at a crossroads where you have to make a decision or you may be in a crisis where you need to take some concrete steps for your future. You do not know what to do and fear is gripping you up. You can make it; you can be successful. God is asking us to be bold and follow him. No matter what happens do not shrink back, but move forward. Life is a constant challenge but God is there to guide us. Accept it and never stop going forward.