Introduction

Joshua's Appearance

First appearance was in Exodus 17:8 where Moses was his leader. He was to choose out men to fight with Amalek and in verse 10 of the chapter it says Joshua Obeyed. In this first appearance of Joshua, the obedient servant - he was victorious and discomfited Amalek with the sword.

Joshua's Apprenticeship

In Exodus 24 when Moses goes up into the Mountain to receive the tablets containing the decalaw, notice that in Exodus 24:13-14 Moses and Joshua go up into the mountain. In verse 14 Moses tells the elders to "wait for us" indicating that they both were gone up.

This became a huge blessing for Joshua, because when they came down from the Mountain in Exodus 32, Joshua was the first to hear the noise of the camp (Exodus 32:17).

From these passages we can see that Moses was training Joshua for a purpose early on in his (Moses') ministry.

Joshua's Faith

Joshua's most notable exploit before the book of Joshua is in Numbers 13-14 where Joshua and Caleb spy out the land with the 10 bad spies. This showed - demonstrated - that Joshua had already cultivated a deep faith in what God could do

Proposition

We must begin all of our beginnings with God, His way.

How?

I. By Cultivating a Deep Relationship with God

Read the Text

7137 No Promise Verse, Only God

Years ago a young missionary had to flee from western China. An infuriated mob hotly pursued him. He hastily boarded a river boat. The mob, too, came on the boat. Then he jumped into the river. The mob began to throw spears at him. Miraculously he escaped, unharmed. When he was telling of the ordeal later, a friend asked him, “What verse from the Bible came to you as you were darting beneath the boat to escape the spears of the mob?” “Verse?” he asked in astonishment, “why, the Lord Himself was with me!”

—Selected

A. Without Faith it is Impossible to Please God

Hebrews 11:6

B. Without Good Works it is Impossible to Please God

James 2

C. Without Discipline it is Impossible to please God

1. Discipline is Commanded

2. Discipline was Part of Paul's Salvation Message

3. Discipline is what Sets a Christian Apart

II. By Maintaining an Intimate Knowledge of the Bible

Seven Wonders Of The Word

1. The wonder of its formation—the way in which it grew is one of the mysteries of time.

2. The wonder of its unification—a library of 66 books, yet one book.

3. The wonder of its age—most ancient of all books.

4. The wonder of its sale—best-seller of all time and of any other book.

5. The wonder of its interest—only book in the world read by all classes of people.

6. The wonder of its language—written largely by uneducated men, yet the best book from a literary standpoint.

7. The wonder of its preservation—the most hated of all books, yet it continues to exist.

—Speaker’s Sourcebook

A. The Bible Keeps us From Sin

Psalms 119:11; 40:8; 1 Jn 2:1

B. The Bible Keeps us With God

Deuteronomy 7:12-14

C. The Study and Practice of the Bible Matters

James 1:22

Martin Luther’s Method

Martin Luther said, “I study my Bible as I gather apples. First, I shake the whole tree that the ripest might fall. Then I shake each limb, and when I have shaken each limb, I shake each branch and every twig. Then I look under every leaf.

“I search the Bible as a whole like shaking the whole tree. Then I shake every limb—study book after book. Then I shake every branch, giving attention to the chapters when they do not break the sense. Then I shake every twig, or a careful study of the paragraphs and sentences and words and their meanings.”

III. By Surrounding Yourself with Godly People

Psalms 119:63, 79, 115; Proverbs 13:20; 1 John 1:3-4

Durer’s Praying Hands

From childhood Albrecht Durer wanted to paint. Finally, he left home to study with a great artist. He met a friend who also had this same desire and the two became roommates. Both being poor, they found it difficult to make a living and study at the same time. Albrecht’s friend offered to work while Albrecht studied. Then when the paintings began to sell he would have his chance. After much persuasion, Albrecht agreed and worked faithfully while his friend toiled long hours to make a living.

The day came when Albrecht sold a wood-carving and his friend went back to his paints, only to find that the hard work has stiffened and twisted his fingers and he could no longer paint with skill. When Albrecht learned what had happened to his friend, he was filled with great sorrow. One day returning home unexpectedly he heard the voice of his friend and saw the gnarled, toilworn hands folded in prayer before him.

“I can show the world my appreciation by painting his hands as I see them now, folded in prayer.” It was this thought that inspired Albrecht Durer when he realized that he could never give back to his friend the skill which had left his hands.

Durer’s gratitude was captured in his inspired painting that has become world famous. And, we are blessed by both the beauty of the painting and the beautiful story of gratitude and brotherhood.

—The Bible Friend