Intro to Joshua (Part C)

Joshua chapter 18 verse three then Joshua said to the children of Israel. How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which Yahweh God of your fathers is given to you so that we see. Years later, Joshua, saying God gave the land Huckabee not going to getting like the Christian life.

God is giving you things is giving us things yet to go in and exercise at claimant, not the claimant squealing steel it not that prosperity John what you have to do what belongs under our responsibility.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Joshua. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will continue his introduction to the book of Joshua as he teaches the Joshua chapter 1 and from Exodus chapter 3 all the way to Deuteronomy 34 Moses is the center of attention. His ministry now it's Joshua Stern heroes passed away, but the power that makes them heroes continues God's work continues as an old Christian quote God varies as workers but as work goes on to*license active credit Rome discovered this did they not. They murdered Paul and Peter. But here, the church still is still going on the crucified Christ church is still here because of him. You can bury God's workmen can bury the word that's that's a big point that comes out of this Moses is dead this much work to do so is is the servant of the Lord. Every Christian should want to be known that moniker servant of the Lord, the man Moses he left that mountain in Midian with that Bush burned but was not consumed with the staff in his hand. God in his heart. I want I want more of that.

There are times I get it I have it. I feel like I've got it times I just can't find it is just not a get all distracted, wanting to sometimes all you not want to go outside and I want to study want to go outside and rain as I lyrics from the song don't want to see me cry didn't indent right on. When will I learn. When will I so you start out intends another man. She and that would not happen, intends another man. She and then now he's got the people of God that he is over overseeing Moses did, but that was Moses the servant of the Lord. It says it came to pass, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of nun time to move forward.

Yep, he's dead, but we got things to do and Moses assistance saying before we get to what he saying Moses assistant would need to emphasize that because EE doesn't just come on the scene.

As I mentioned, there were decades of preparation that went into making Joshua the man that he became and we miss him in Scripture because were so focused on molded lawyers to serve great servant of the Lord.

No question we cannot belittle at all the work of Joshua verse two Moses my servant is dead now therefore arise, go over this Jordan you and all this people to a land which I am giving to them the children of Israel. Moses my servant is dead.

I should also point out when Joshua was in his 50s.

He is referred to in Scripture as the young man just you know just saying. But here we are Moses my servant. Of course he is dead and 80 continues now therefore arise, go over this Jordan you and all this people the day that promise promise so long ago that to some of these who were alive in Egypt probably thought many times they can ever happen whenever you want to get there and now it is here. Joshua was qualified to bring them in, but was he called because he could be qualified and not be able to do it qualification are useful in Christianity only what the calling is there. Otherwise, they can become quite a problem.

Someone who thinks that they deserve this recognition that they should have entire title because the qualifications are not in the spirit, and they will cause problems and then they leave in a try to make a mess of things when they go and everybody's is what it's all so go I like them.

They had the qualification what they were called to these things and it became evident and so the lesson we get. Moses was qualified and called Joshua.

You know the gifts of the spirit. They have to be developed by because our character not can give you the sum impart some gift of discernment. But you know how to use it, just butcher thing your understanding of yep the sermon you start blowing whistles on things other people are seeing if you're not careful this maternal so you learn to make your delivery to and so this this helps us to not be so presumptuous, which is not an attribute. It is a liability to the land which I am giving to them. It was always God's land.

Every piece of land on the planet is God's land gets to do whatever he wants whenever he wants.

And in this case it is to the Jews in the land of Israel with the Jews currently are. God gave it to them in a nobody going to take it away from them ever again. Verse three every place of the soul your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses, this verse is been so troublesome to me as a Christian in earlier years. I loved it so much. Every place so my foot will tread upon unthinking, I'm going to get victory over my flashing on the map self-control and be gentle and all these other things and long-suffering when I really don't need but I ago that I have these things and I found out how difficult, how hard, how I'd hurt feelings of other people's unintentionally.

Most of the time and I've had to reconsider this verse. Often times I have to now find I'm not. It is not as easy as it was for Joshua on the map. Here you go. This land between Lebanon and Egypt between the Jordan and the Mediterranean all way up to rephrase this is yours I have to learn what my boundaries are and so do you and the better the sooner we learn well. Boundaries are the more effective we are, because then we have license we can do this. I have full authority now not to worry about. Imagine if you could get a past due hundred miles an hour when the interstate I mean you have you do it because you have a pass, but if you don't have a pass you're breaking the boundaries looking over your shoulder you nervous, not good is as I given to you as I said to Moses. Notice the past tense. I have given that I'm giving is yours. There's no human being that can challenge this lawfully. They will challenge Joshua chapter 18 verse three then Joshua said to the children of Israel. How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which Yahweh God of your fathers has given to you so that we see.

Years later, Joshua, saying God gave you the land Huckabee not going and getting the delight of Christian life. God is giving you things he's given us things yet to go in and exercise it. Claimant not name the claimant squealing steel it.

Not that that prosperity John, but you have to do what belongs under our responsibility. This mandate to go in and take the land is given in numbers chapter 33 on time going to chapter 33 versus 5255.

There's a clear mandate not the only place with that one is clear and so we we compare with Joshua that mandate is not stealing anything going in.

He is exercising judgment and claiming of the spoils for himself, you know, most of human history. Armies were paid with the spoils, not with the check so you go and conquer a village whatever goal you find is yours. I'm sure they were boundaries on that to not just a big piece that goes to the king.

The overall loot was yours so this was right in line with the understanding of those days. Verse four from the wilderness of this Lebanon as far as the great River of the river Euphrates and all the land of the Hittites into the great sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. It reads as though Joshua had a map in front of him and he can look at the things he did have a map in front of him and he can look at these things and we we don't go far in this book of Joshua. Like I said before, we find these superlative versus there are quite a few of them every place the sole of your foot. I've already given to you. Be strong and of good courage are just many of them. This one is is not. I don't think 12 to memorize necessary, though, would be good but is such a lesson because it goes back to the boundaries we have boundaries just because we are free in Christ is not mean we can be reckless do anything we want. Work outside the boundaries of many tried to do and it always gives a bad name to the church and it just seems to know what the latest Christian factors grow on the Internet. I'm sure it's there are some is another krill here we go another one. Why can't we just be satisfied with continuing in the apostles doctrine fellowship and prayer and communion in the ministry of the word.

I can't that be enough for us.

I'm not going to solve the problem by asking that question. Anyway, here are the boundaries were better off, and we accept them and when the tribes of the territories given an they get with their allotment is. That's it.

That's how it is for us to. Why don't I have a cathedral.

Ledoux's storefront cathedral. But why don't I have you I would love one of those big stone towers take like 60 years to build a big bell on top of him as a pastor I want what I have my lot, God is good.

This is your lot. This is your boundary what you going to do it. This guy can say I don't want it and do nothing or I can try to work as hard as I can work to get everything out of it. I can get so the lessons about that kind of stuff they await us. Verse five. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. David spoke these words, these very words of Solomon about the temple and first Chronicles 28 verse 20 what you need just to show you how we can take a verse misapplied. Suppose you are a Christian and you happen to also be a prizefighter boxer enemy putting things in boxes. I mean putting things on people on the floor and you read this verse, no man shall be able to stand before me and get your clock cleaned so we gotta be careful how we apply these verses to Joshua God is saying I am going to drive out your enemies.

I don't want you turning back you going to be victorious which you going to have to work. That's what he is saying. He's not saying don't worry he's gonna plow through like a tank over you know twigs or something you will have divine help. He says I will not leave you nor forsake you. He needs to tell in this because they're going to be struggles awaiting him when he's going to be afraid and is going to feel abandoned, so that's why God is telling him is either going to believe that when those moments come was going to not believe them is the same with you and I God tells this great military commander that don't ever think I'm not going to be there.

I often liked will not so much anymore, but there've been times us, Lord. It's not enough that I know you hear what you change and fix office and there been times he says no, and the next one I wake up I'm still following him yeah because we know right verse six be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them how you command somebody to be strong and of good courage.

That's what this is. God is saying to just to Joshua I want you to get this in you. This is the direction we're going in.

It can be no backing down from this they can be no retreat from your faith with a Christian today the inheritance again this possession of righteousness, as Peter sells us. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible under file that does not fade away, reserved for you in the heaven see this whole book of Joshua from the Jewish perspective is about their inheritance and it was that lamb was theirs. And so for us righteousness.

Christ likeness. That is our inheritance in this life by faith. These are what the objectives are and we should not hesitate to accept them. Joshua was encouraged the same way by Moses. We won't read in Deuteronomy chapter 3 verse 28 he gives them the same encouragement long ago and here he is encouraged. He was encouraged by him God through Moses. Now he's encouraged directly then we get the verse 18 and the people are going to encourage Joshua see if this man is leaders getting all this cheering on NSS with that's Christians if the Angels rejoice when one sinner repents and converts.

Does that mean they also are into us when we are trying to be righteous absolutely. They see the face of God, they know what the score is they know what's going on.

They are intelligent beings and they want us to succeed, to be victorious faith in God leads to faith for God's truth.

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all that the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go, so Gus is just be strong. I know sometimes is so messed things are so messed up some is telling us would be be strong. We have a choice. We can turn that what you mean you're always talking about all we can say thank you. I know that's what I'm supposed to be trying to do so. The emphasis and we cannot miss. It is therefore is a necessity that you may observe to do according to the all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. We are to observe the Wharton, not in the sense of being a spectator. I'm observing the law watching it type not going to do it.

That's not the meaning. I believe in the abiding security of the believer you buy retries you are secure as you can be into. That means you just know he is Lord and nobody else's with him and everything he says is right no matter what part of what it takes to be a believer abiding in Christ the Lord is not saying watching so much how we walk in the light is that we walk in the light.

He wants to help us with that walk always is my servant commanded you. I already commented on Moses enough. He says to not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, while anybody can have a quick start, poor finish. Anybody can do well for years and then fail in the end.

Deuteronomy 28 verse 14 the same words appear to not turn and serve other gods, as we stalk you must stay straight is straight it is narrow does nothing to the writer to the left is worth it is just not worded Pilgrim's progress in eternal throw. They ended up in the dungeon. The giant castle of despair and it was just took everything they had to survive that and is one of the terrible times in the Pilgrim's progress account and you say boy bunion is drawing from his own life's experience of depression and how to overcome it. Remember he was locked away 12 years in jail and his beloved daughter passed away while he was in that jail.

Yet some tough struggles and you can always get that read off the pages you have to have that insight to pay attention and you get it anyway.

Proverbs 427 do not turn the writer to the left remove your foot from evil.

Yet the idea straighter now that your progress that you may prosper wherever you go. Attention given to God's word. God's word is astounding. Victory depends upon adherence to the word of God, just as it is today. So when Jesus said if you abide in me, you will be my disciples, if you abide in me.

If you do not abide in me, you will be cast into the fire. John 15 delays and write out. I don't care what other doctrines of men have to say I know what Jesus said and I know with the rest of the Scriptures say, and we have so much more of God's word in Joshua verse eight this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate in it day and night, you shall observe to do according to all that is written in it.

Then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success starting from the bottom up.

There is a success is not good. People like Bill Gates have it people like Steve Jobs had it it doesn't do many good and only could take them as far as the grave that said, once they die.

It doesn't help that's bad success. Good success is that which carries us across that spiritual Jordan into heaven, and here Joshua being told to make the law the Bible. His book is the same Bible that Moses had Joshua was to in order to obey.

He says how do you know what to say about God.

If you don't know what God is said about himself and would gotta set about people. It comes from the book in order to obey, you have to know what is said. Why is this such a difficult lesson for so many churchgoers know answers. We are who knows.

I mean you can have an answer that not going to change it all the time in my changeable one or two while at this point I could quote Isaiah 59 verse 21, but I'm not because of time, but there is the emphasis on God's word and actually doing it, knowing the Scriptures is not an off is not self-sufficient, just knowing the Scriptures still have to do it in the power of the spirit we should steep our souls in the Scripture as much as we can until it becomes instinctive so train and the word that we don't have to ask is this writers is wrong. We know it. The filters is operating just the way it should work, and we do not have to fret over matters. As Alan Redpath said to be is another one. So, Alan Redpath, one of the Bible to have his books in the chapel store is one of the great influences on my life and is saying to be saturated with the word of God is to be assured of the presence of God. I get to have a time with tears rolling down my try to quote data a little bit where is God I have the word, more messed up.

That's the fight it's not just choreographed dance. It's nasty, it's good involves failing and it involves being restored and you you lose your temper or you fly off the handle or something like that. That's part of the fight that goes on we just and as the years go by. We get better at not doing those things.

We will Bible is not a good luck charm or open sesame kind of arrangement it is God's word to us and our response to what he has said. He says you shall meditate in it day and night that covers the that covers everything. We are to explore the word to reflect on it to pour into it reading is consuming. Meditation is digestion and then comes the application. You gotta do it. I have here. First Timothy chapter 4 can't read it no time versus 1516 there. Paul tells Timothy to meditate on these things. Give yourself entirely to them. This is not incidentally transcendental p.m. meditation, or that contemplative prayer John coming out of these New Age liberals in the church using the Bible to convince people that God is not enough repeating words and mantras over and over and over to tap into some spiritual energy to get to some new level of Christianity. That's demonism and they're out there if you don't know what they look like you might for sucker to them.

You better be careful's various cultic attempts that are designed to trap you because they tell you to get into some new dimension of spirituality.

It's a lie you're good with the Scripture and telling people who Jesus Christ is and following the virtues. What more do we need will I would like to hover that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it that's going to take up your day and night. It will leave much space for much else because somebody is going to come along to start pulling on your ponytail or tugging on your cake. Me, I became you got the point and obviously somebody's going to push her buttons and with gain time the Celia love is now Christian. The see how you forgive let's see if you're strong enough and courageous enough to tell about Jesus Christ.

We supposed to tell them or if you're disciplined enough to shut your mouth. When God says don't talk.

This is what it means to get the word when Paul's computer said we will give us up to the ministry of the word.

It covered the Bible and doing it, not just studying it and meditating on it but actually getting up in the annotated sermons I preached at hound me. Years later I preached down I am not going to be somebody that can't do what they preach as best I can. Well anyway and you should have good success.

Satisfaction will verse nine have I not commanded you.

Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid or dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. If you can't be on the battlefield with Joshua.

You can be on the hillside with Moses. If you can't be on the field swinging the sword you can bend your knees and pray on behalf of others is always something to do for all of us. I know you get older you feel like mom uses it on. That's nonsense. Isaiah 46.

Even to your old age. I am he, and even to gray hairs.

I will carry you I have made you, I will bear and and I will bear even I will carry and deliver you, don't you do a little thing.

For one moment because not on the battle line. He says normally dismayed rather emphatic about this the Lord your God is with you promised, we will encounter God in our lives. Faith, thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Joshua cross reference is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia. If you're interested in more information about this ministry, please visit our website cross reference radio.com find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified each new edition of cross reference radio.

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