The God that Does Not Fail nor Forsake
Text: Joshua 1:1-7 (Stress on 5b)
Introduction
The change of command is never easy. The loss of Moses, even though the people had be prepared, was nonetheless a blow. These people, the Israelite that now stood before Joshua and God, were not the same that had followed Moses. This was generation, many of who never saw the waters parted. They were unfamiliar with Mount Sinai. They were the people of a second hope -- The new generation.
A new man was to lead these people. A new example was to be se, a man whose name meant Savior. Indeed the name Jesus in the Hebrew would have been Joshua. He would be a shadow of the coming Savior. The faith required of these people would a shadow of the faith required of people throughout the ages.
As the people would cross over the Jordan to promise land by taking a step of faith, so must sinners come to God by taking a step of faith.
As Israel would need to fight to clear the land of sinners, so must the believer fight to cleanse their life from sin. As Israel would face each obstacle with faith so must the believer do so today.
Out test divides itself into thee main sections. 1) The Prodigy; 2) The Promise; 3) The Promiser
I.
The Prodigy (Joshua)
Most of us have it completely backward when it comes to leadership. We want to lead before we follow. We wish to be captain before we serve as privates.
Of all the traits that would help Joshua the most, it would be that of a good listener. Joshua listened to the Lord. The great example would be the taking of Jericho.
Before courage can shine, there must first come a challenge. Most of us are satisfied with just telling ourselves we are courageous, we would defend the faith, we would stand for Jesus but the Challenge makes you do more than just talk the talk, it makes you walk the walk.
What glorious promises God gives his people. There is nothing lacking in the promise given Joshua. It was everything that God had promised Moses and more.
Promise come in two forms: The general promise that the personal, precise promises.
A.
Generally, God promised the blessing of the promise
land. A blessing that would be shared
by all including Joshua
1.
I will not fail thee
1 Corinthians
1:9
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
2 Timothy 1:12
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
2.
I will not forsake thee
Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36 As it is written:
For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3.
I will prosper thee
The other two had no qualifications, no requirement. This does.
In a nutshell, for prosperity
Faith unwavering Faith is required!
We really have already covered these but they are worth repeating
A.
He is the God that Does Not Forget (i.e. the promise to
Abraham)
B.
He is the God that Does Not Fail
C.
He is the God that Does Not Forsake
D.
He is the God that is Faithful