Observations in Success
Joshua 1:1-18 (KJV)
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
Whenever there is a vacuum in a position, God fills it.
He fills it with qualified servants.
He fills it with servants that He has gifted for that particular task.
2 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.
Whenever there is a vacuum that threatens the completion of a God given task, God always recasts the vision
He recasts the vision again to the leader and again to those who will follow him
God never changes the direction nor the intent of the vision until it is complete
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From 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.
Whenever God gives his people a challenge, He gives them a vista of the possibilities
God wants His people to visualize the potential blessings He desires to give them
God wants His people to see the BIG Picture
5 There 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.
Whenever God has a task for His people to accomplish, He always gives them His personal guarantee for succeeding in accomplishing that task.
Notice: That God doesn’t say there won’t be resistance.
Joshua and the people of Israel had many to stand against them as they strove to complete the task God had charged them with.
God simply provides His people with the hope of knowing that, if anyone were to stand against them in their endeavor to accomplish His will, He wouldn’t allow them to ultimately prevail and prevent His purpose from being achieved.
Anything that God calls you to do will most assuredly be accompanied by His ability to bring it to pass.
6 Be 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.
Whenever God places a challenge before us, He insists we take a stand.
To stand strong
To stand courageously
Whenever God calls His people to a task, He almost always reminds them of the rewards
Galatians 6:9 (KJV)
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
7 Only 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.
Whenever God places before His people a mission, He continually provides guidance.
This guidance comes from His Word.
This guidance comes with specific conditions that must be adhered to guarantee success.
1. Observe it
2. Do it
3. Don’t deviate from it
In being faithful to perform this, God promises prosperity.
8 This 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.
Whenever God directs His people to adhere to His Word, He also rewards their obedience with successes along the way.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Literally, when we continually place our trust in Him, He literally directs us in the way we are going.
9 Have 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.
Whenever God exhorts His people to stand and deliver, He reminds them:
He is the One commanding us and as such His power will sustain us.
Be not afraid – the devil will use fear to dishearten us. But fear is a lie, an attempt to keep us from trusting in God.
His constant presence everywhere, in any situation, and at all times.
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
Whenever God commissions His people for a task, He has an order in place in which to follow in executing His plan.
First a leader, then those under the leader, then the people. Joshua, the officers, the people
God has and still does have an order for accomplishing His work. One leader, several officers, and the people.
11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.
Whenever God calls His people to accomplish an undertaking, He instructs His people to prepare.
A preparation alludes to a commitment to a goal.
God expects us to commit to and prepare for our mission
12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;
15 Until the Lord have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the Lord your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord'S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
Whenever God enlists His people for a work, He requires them to follow the leader.
Those who follow, solicit the Lord’s blessings and direction on the leader.
18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
Whenever God challenges His people with a mission, He insists on a unified body. No dissenters.
