The Beginning of a Journey (Part 2)

III. The Lord's charge unto Joshua. 1. After the death of Moses, the LORD gave Joshua a charge to lead Israel into the promised land (Jos 1:1-2). A. We are also heading to the promised land that God has waiting for us (1Pe 1:4; Joh 14:1-3). B. We are looking for that same city and country that Abraham was (Heb 11:10,16; Heb 13:14). 2. God promised Joshua that he would be with him and not let his enemies stand before him as he did for Moses (Jos 1:5 c/w Deu 7:24). A. God stands by his ministers in the N.T. i. God stands by them when they have evangelistic opportunities in front of them (Act 18:10). ii. God stands by them when they are in prison and have to answer for their faith (Act 23:11; 2Ti 4:17). iii. God stands by them when their lives are in peril (Act 27:23-24). B. God will deliver his ministers from their enemies (2Co 1:8-10; 2Ti 3:10-11). C. God will deliver the church from their enemies (2Th 1:4-6). 3. The LORD then goes on to repeat the things that he had told him earlier through Moses (Jos 1:6-7). A. Pastors need reminded of their duties (2Ti 1:6), and of the fundamentals of the gospel (2Ti 2:8). B. Brethren likewise need reminded of things they have already been taught and know. i. They need reminded about God's election and unconditional grace and love for them, and that they strive not about words to no profit (2Ti 2:10-14). ii. They need reminded to live holy and godly lives to make their election sure (2Pe 1:12-13). iii. They will even need reminded twice to remember the words of scripture (2Pe 3:1-2). iv. There is nothing wrong with putting the saints in remembrance of things that they once knew, especially when doing so helps save them from making the same mistakes their forebears did (Jud 1:5). v. A good pastor will teach both the new and the old to his flock (Mat 13:52). 4. God tells him again to be strong and of a good courage so that he can divide the inheritance to Israel (Jos 1:6). A. Pastors have to be strong if they are going to lead their flock on the paths of righteousness (1Co 9:9 c/w Pro 14:4). B. The strength a pastor needs is not physical, but spiritual (1Ti 4:8). i. God is not concerned with big muscles, but with humble fear of God (Psa 147:10-11; 1Sa 16:7). ii. A wise man is a strong man (Pro 24:5; Ecc 7:19). iii. Wisdom is better than strength (Ecc 9:16). C. They have to be ready to fight off wolves that come to kill the sheep (Joh 10:11-13; Zec 11:17). D. Pastors must be strong to: i. feed their church with knowledge and understanding (Jer 3:15). ii. give them sound teaching so they are unified and not carried off by false doctrines (Eph 4:11-14). iii. feed them to strengthen them so they are not destroyed by the wolves (Act 20:28-29). E. It is wisdom and knowledge that will be our stability (Isa 33:6). F. Stability - 1.a. Power of remaining erect; freedom from liability to fall or be overthrown. c. Ability to remain in the same relative place or position in spite of disturbing influences; capacity for resistance to displacement; the condition of being in stable equilibrium, tendency to recover the original position after displacement. 5. The LORD again reiterates the need for strength and courage to keep God's law (Jos 1:7). A. It takes strength and courage to do God's commandments (Psa 103:20-21; Psa 119:120). B. Joshua was not to turn to the right hand or to the left (Jos 1:7). i. This was a command that God gave to Israel over and over again (Deu 5:32; Deu 17:11; Deu 17:20; Deu 28:14). ii. Solomon issued the same warning (Pro 4:23-27). C. The path of the just is a strait and narrow one (Mat 7:13-14). i. Strait - A. adj. I. In physical senses: Tight, narrow. 3. a. Of a way, passage, or channel: So narrow as to make transit difficult. ii. The way to the promised land (kingdom of God) is full of tribulation (Act 14:22; 1Th 3:3-4; 2Th 1:4-5; 2Ti 3:12). iii. A pastor must endure hardness, not turn from it (2Ti 2:3-4).