Taking the Land
The Gospel Project • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Taking of the Land
Taking of the Land
When Joshua took over leadership of Israel God told him to “be strong and courageous.”
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua was called to be strong not in his own strength, but in his faith in the Lord. He was called to put His trust in God like Moses did before him, and courageous in his acts of obedience.
There is a Biblical lesson for us in this- We are called to completely trust God in everything. We don’t turn to self-help books for the right answer we look to God, His word, and through much prayer seek to trust Him in every circumstance.
Today we are looking at an impossible situations for man, and how nothing is impossible for God.
God was with His people as they entered the promised land. One day, the Israelites came to a place ruled by five kings. The king of Jerusalem called to the other four kings in the land. He said to them, “Help me attack Gibeon because it has made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel.” So the five kings joined forces and went up with all their armies to fight against Gibeon.
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.
What does this story reveal about God?
What does this story reveal about God?
God had promised this Land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob long before Joshua was every a thought.- God is faithful to His word
God told Joshua that He would bring the victory and would be with Him
How do we respond to this truth being revealed?
We live in obedience to God
Our faith is shown in our Obedience. Do we truly trust that God has what is best for us? What about when everything is going so wrong in our life? Can we say God I believe in you and You are faithful therefore I will trust
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.
Faith is assurance- God will do what He said He will do
Joshua responded in obedience to God even taking on five Kings at once.
This story is a witness of God’s faithfulness and love. WE can look at stories like this and find hope in times of struggles.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
This story is a witness of God’s faithfulness and love. WE can look at stories like this and find hope in times of struggles.
We respond in worship
God is worthy of all praise and glory simply because he is God, but we are christians have even more reason to worship be cause He is faithful to His word and His word spoke of Jesus coming and doing the impossible freeing us from our sins. Praise God that He is faithful and we can trust in Him.
Truth does not need updating. There is a story of a man who came to his old friend, a music teacher, and said to him, “What’s the good news today?” The old teacher was silent as he stood up and walked across the room, picked up a hammer, and struck a tuning fork. As the note sounded out through the room, he said, “That is A. It is A today; it was A five thousand years ago, and it will be A ten thousand years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall flats on his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune.” He struck the note again and said, “That is A, my friend, and that’s the good news for today.”
Who truly deserves the credit for the victory?
Who truly deserves the credit for the victory?
God fought for His people and helped Joshua and the Israelites conquer the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Christ Connection: Joshua’s name means “The Lord is salvation.” God fought for Joshua and the Israelites, saving them and giving them victory over their enemies.
Sinners can look to God for victory over sin and death. God brought us salvation by sending His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and rise again.
In our lives God deserves the Victory-
Joshua at the end of his life reminds the people that the only response for all that God has done for them is to worship Him-
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua says Chose today who you will serve- will you serve the Living True God or will you be like the rest of the nations?
There is a response to the Truth of God
Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Truth, Response to
You are driving down the highway when you encounter a sign that reads, “Dangerous Curve Ahead.” Immediately you are confronted with making a choice. One, you can observe the warning and slow down. Two, you can ignore the warning and maintain your rate of speed. Or, three, you can defy the warning and speed up. Whatever response you exercise, you will not change the truth of the sign. The curve remains dangerous, regardless of whether you acknowledge the fact or not.
We as people who have been saved from sin and death should worship God everyday with thankfulness- As David said “who am I that you have brought me this far?”
What did we do to deserve salvation? nothing it was gift given by God Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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