Sermon Tone Analysis

THE ‘JOSHUA CHALLENGE’

Joshua 1:1-9

*Josh 1:1-9*

*1:1 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. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.

4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates - all the Hittite country - to the Great Sea on the west.

5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.

As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

*

* *

*6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.

7 Be strong and very courageous.

Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

Then you will be prosperous and successful.

9 Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." *

* *

* *

I am not sure if you noticed, but in the last month, two great, faithful warriors have laid down their weapons and were promoted to Glory.

Brother Harold Ray and Brother Orvil Olson, within a couple of weeks, went home to be with the Lord.

Milbre and I have been at Calvary Temple almost 14 years, but this church has a colorful history that goes way back—over 80 years.

The founding generations of this church are passing on and we stand again in a time of transition, prayerfully looking forward to choosing a new Senior Pastor, hopefully, in the not too distant future.

I want to draw on some parallels in Scripture that illustrate the challenge that we face as a church body.

In the course of ministry at Calvary Temple, I was privileged to be able to visit these great men and listen to their testimony and feel their heart.

In my visits with Brother Orvil Olson, he didn’t talk about the farm, or politics, or business—he spoke of the great days of ministry in younger years as they traveled the country, singing the songs of faith.

As I visited Brother Harold Ray in the last year or so, what a joy it was to hear him speak of the wonderful remembrances of years gone by at this church.

He spoke often of the old “Glory Barn” downtown, where the power of God would fall and people were filled with the Holy Ghost!

In wistful moments, he longed to see some semblance of what he viewed as great outpourings of God’s power and presence.

He was a prayer warrior that loved this church and prayed for it every day.

I want to state unequivocally that our future is brighter than our past.

How can I make such a statement?

Because of those, like Orvil and Harold and others that have gone on, have invested their lives here.

There /will/ be a return on the word they have sent out.

Now, as in our text, a new generation at Calvary Temple is poised to receive marching orders.

Can you imagine—the death of Moses was a great trauma for Israel?

His name was synonymous with deliverance.

He spoke face to face with God.

He brought down the Ten Commandments, engraved in stone by the finger of God.

He was a one man National Resource.

He was full of life force one day—and he was gone the next—buried by God on the mountain.

Moses’ death was also a personal shock to Joshua.

Joshua—the loyal Capitan, the devoted follower.

He had taken orders and obeyed them faithfully.

He understood that things would never be the same again.

The future loomed threatening and uncertain.

There was a land to conquer and unknown enemies that had to be defeated.

It was in this uncertain time of transition (somewhat like we are experiencing) that God spoke to Joshua and challenged him.

There was the promise of prosperity and success.

But from the first word there was no question: this success must be on God’s terms.

It was going to require faith and courage!

*/1.

/**/God stated the obvious: “Moses my servant is dead”./*

*Josh 1:1*

*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.*

a.                  Joshua had to face reality.

It was the end of an era.

His life and the life of his people had already changed.

The restrictions of listening to Moses and obeying his orders were forever lifted.

But so was the security of leaving the responsibility of final choices to Moses.

a.    Moses was a remarkable leader.

He spent */the first 40 years/* of his life in the household of the Pharaoh of Egypt—*/learning how to lead men./*

God spoke to him and said, “I want you to lead my people, Israel, out of Egypt.”

He thought he was ready, and jumped up and killed an Egyptian.

b.

Then God sent him */into the desert for 40 more years—learning how to lead sheep/*.

c.

*/And when he was 80 years of age,/* God spoke again and said, “ I want you to lead my people, Israel, out of Egypt.

What a difference God’s school of training had made in Moses’ life.

Now, he didn’t feel qualified, and asked God for a spokesman.

All the while, God was preparing him for the hardships of the wilderness, the stubbornness and unbelief of the people.

i.

So effective was the training, that when God wanted to kill all the first generation of Israelites for their unbelief, Moses stepped in between and said, “If you’re going to kill them, take me also.”

He was a true shepherd!

ii.

Remember this:  God calls men, but he also has a time for them to fulfill that call.

iii.

Jump ahead of God, and suffer defeat.

Follow him, and enjoy great and glorious victories.

b.                  Moses had shown to Joshua, and to all Israel, the power, grace, and salvation of the Lord.

a.

Moses had obeyed God.

He had marched into Egypt to confront Pharaoh.

In the course of fulfilling that call:

                                                  i.

He had instituted Passover.

ii.

He had parted the Red Sea.

                                               iii.

He struck the rock and water came forth to quench their thirst.

iv.

He prayed and manna came from heaven to feed them.

v.

He had led his people for forty years.

b.    Moses’ very life spoke of God’s grace and power in deliverance.

c.

Most of us have some Moses-type influence in our lives.

a.

We have had authority that has taught us of God’s grace and love.

i.

We have learned from Spiritual leaders, the lessons of faith, the grace of God, and the power of the blood of Jesus.

ii.

Parents, the church, teachers, and leaders—all have shown us the truth and lessons of faith.

iii.

Thank God for those who have blazed the trail ahead of us.