Sermon Tone Analysis

We're going to *continue* on the *subject of Joshua*.

as we have already seen in Joshua's life, *he achieved* what seemed to be *the impossible*.

He *brought* this nation of *Israel* to a *place of total dedication* to God & *total victory*.

They *went from oppression* *& poverty to power & prosperity*.

Israel was now *in possession* of the *land of* their *dreams*.

By this time *Joshua* was *getting* very *old*.

But there's *1 V.* of scripture that *shows* why he was so *successful* in his life.

*I*.

*JOSHUA 24:15*

              *A*.

With this statement, *Joshua summed up how he felt*.

*1*.

The *success of Joshua* life is *not measured* *by* *how many nations they overcame*, *or* by *how many* *people* he had *under him*.

*2*.

*Joshua success is measured* more *by* *what the people had in their heart's*.

*a*.

Look at *JOSHUA 24:18; 21; 24*.

*b*.

*This is* what I consider *true success*, that we can not *only follow the Lord* ourselves, *but* that we can *lead other* to the Lord Jesus Christ.

*i*.

*When* we're *following* the *Lord* in this manner then *success in the natural realm will follow*.

*ii*.

That's *seeking* *1st* the *kingdom* of God, then all these things will follow.

*II*.

*Joshua was a man of vision*.

*A*.

He had the *ability* to *see beyond what faced him* *&* to *see* the greatness of his God.

*1*.

*To have vision means*, "*To see beyond ordinary sight, to perceive a revelation or glimpse beyond the natural world*."

*B*.

Look at *PRO 29:18*

              *C*.

*Vision takes on 2 vital aspects*.

*1*.

*1st*, it is *vision of our redemption*.

*a*.

*Joshua had* the *confidence* that *God* *would fight for them*.

*b*.

That *he* (God) *would be their deliverer* from every nation.

*c*.

Likewise, *you & I must see the redemption that Jesus bought for us*

                                           *i*.

He *made us sons* of the *living God*.

He's *given* *us* a *position* with God *&* *dominion over* the *power of darkness*.

*ii*.

*You can look beyond* the *temporal to* the *eternal*.

*iii*.

That's *exactly* what the *Word says* *we are to do*.

                                           *iv*.

(*2 COR 4:18*) Says, "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen {are} temporal; but the things which are not seen {are} eternal."

*c*.

*We need to have vision*.

*i*.

We can *look beyond* our *weaknesses* *to His strength*.

*Beyond sickness to His health.

Beyond lace to His abundance*.

*ii*.

*With a vision of Christ's victory, we can take on victory*.

*2*.

*2 COR 2:14*

                                  *a*.

*One translation says*, "But thanks be to God who leads me on from place to place in the train of His triumph, to celebrate His victory over the enemies of Christ; & by me sends forth the knowledge of Him, a steam of fragrant incense, throughout the world."

*b*.

*As your vision of redemption increases*, *so does* *your victory*, *just as Israel's confidence increased* *as they began to see the Lord's plan for their lives*.

(Part of that is *seeing who they were*, having that vision of what is theirs in the Lord.)

*3*.

As we said, *Vision* takes of *2 vital aspects*.

*a*.

The *1st* being a *vision of our redemption*.

*D*.

The *2nd* being a *vision of direction*.

*1*.

*Israel wandered* *aimlessly* for *40 years*, *not really knowing God's direction for their lives*.

*2*.

The *people lived from day to day* *without* *understanding* the *purpose for their lives*.

*a*.

(I think this *shows us something* very *interesting*.

The children of *Israel* *had God's presence*.

They had the *cloud & the pillar* of Fire.

*Yet*, they had *no vision*.)

*b*.

*We* too can *have God's presence* in our live or *even sensing his presence when we come to church*, & still not have a vision.

*c*. .

*Israel had no vision*.

*i*.

A *result* of having *no vision* the *people became subject to **discontent*.

*d*.

*Without* a *vision*, *we* too can *wander in uncertainty*.

*iii*.

*When a person has no vision* for the direction in which God is leading, it is *easy to slip into discouragement*.

*III*.

In fact, in the verse that says, "Where {there is} no vision, the people perish," *the word "**perish" means "to loosen, (make) naked, & set at nought."*

*A*.

In other words this verse means, "*Where there is no vision, dream, or pursuit of God's plan, people become loose, undisciplined, & discouraged*."

*1*.

When Joshua took control of the nation of Israel, the *people* *began to see* that *when they remained close to God*, *the land* of their dreams *came within* their *grasp*.

*a*.

*When you* begin to *perceive* the *vision* that *God* *places before you*, a *hunger & desire to remain close to God will emerge*.

*b*.

*It's good to have visions, goals, & plans* for your life, but what's even *better* is *to have God's vision*, & plan for your life.

*2*.

The *vision of the new land* is what *kept Joshua alive*.

*a*.

It was *God's promise* & he would *not rest* *until* he *conquered all* & *dwelt* *within* that *vision*.

*b*.

It *provided* *direction for his life*.

*c*.

*God wants his direction in your life*.

*i*.

It *might be* a *vision* to spend more time *in prayer*, it might be a *vision for your business*, *your home*, or *your ministry*.