"Preparing For Success." (Joshua 1: 1-9)
Transcript.
A child is boy is born, full of life, with two eyes, with lungs strong enough to cry loud and often. It cried when he was hungry, it cried when it’s nappy needed changing, or when he simply wanted to be held. Like every baby, it grew, cutting teeth, crawling then walking, and discovering the world around. Yet, there was something different about this child, something unusual. You see, this baby had a special "predicament " to deal with because its father was wealthy almost beyond imagination.
This meant that while this child seemed ordinary on the outside, he was destined for a life of potentially extraordinary wealth. At this point, you might be wondering, "Who is this child you're talking about?" Here's the answer: it's you.
Now, you may say, "Wait a minute. That doesn't sound like me! I wasn’t born into wealth." But let me explain. The Bible teaches that when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, God becomes our Heavenly Father. It also states we are then born into His family and become His children. And because of who our Father is, we owns everything he ca give us. So spiritually speaking, we are heirs to unimaginable riches. The Bible tells us that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ and that we are complete in Him.
Maybe you thought wealth was all about money in the bank, the bible teaches us that wealth is much more than that.
But here’s the catch. Many of us, though spiritually rich, feel spiritually poor. We ask, “If I’m so rich spiritually, why do I sometimes feel like I’m really struggling? When will I start to enjoy my inheritance?”
The answer to that question lies in God’s plan for your life.
You see, God doesn’t give us everything all at once. He knows that if He did, it would overwhelm us, and we’d miss the growth and maturity that come through the process. Instead, He gives us our inheritance as we become mature enough to receive it.
I believe this idea is beautifully illustrated for us in the Old Testament book of Joshua. God promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites—a land flowing with milk and honey. In Exodus 23, God said, “But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land..”
Notice that phrase: “little by little.” God didn’t give them the land all at once. Instead, He gave it to them as they were able to handle it.
The same principle applies to us today. God has promised us spiritual blessings and an abundant life in Christ, but He doesn’t hand it to us all at once on a plate. He grows us step by step, teaching us to trust Him, depend on Him, and follow His Word.
This brings us to the book of Joshua. Joshua is a story of how God’s people gradually claimed the inheritance God had promised them. It’s a book about moving forward in faith, fighting battles, and taking hold of what God has already declared to be ours.
So, lets look at the way God blesses his people with his abundance of blessing at illustrated for us in Ch 1 of the book of Joshua….
Let’s begin with Joshua 1:1-9, where we meet Joshua himself. It begins by telling us.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.’” 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
(Joshua 1: 1-3)
Imagine being in Joshua’s shoes. Moses—the towering leader, the one who delivered Israel from Egypt and led them for 40 years is gone. And now, God was calling Joshua to step up and lead. How would you feel?
Personally, I think I would’ve been overwhelmed. It’s hard enough to lead in normal circumstances, but to step into the shoes of a leader like Moses. That’s a daunting task.
A feeling of nervous anxiety is perhaps something that Joshua might reasonably felt at that time. But God didn’t leave Joshua alone in his fear. Instead, He gave him the encouragement and instruction he needed to succeed. And in these opening verses we will find timeless principles for preparing for success—principles that apply not just to Joshua but to us as well as we seek to live out the calling God has placed on our lives.
Joshua must have felt overwhelmed. Imagine God coming to you and saying, “Moses, No 1 guy is dead, now it’s your turn to take over.”
Think about that. It wasn’t just that Joshua had to fill Moses’ shoes, though that alone would have been a daunting task. It was also the monumental assignment he was handed: leading the children of Israel into the land of Canaan.
This was no small matter. The land was filled with fortified cities, and the inhabitants were fierce warriors, well-versed in battle. The terrain itself was rugged and mountainous, presenting immense logistical challenges. And Joshua is now tasked with leading this nation into a land that seemed impossible to conquer.
Can you imagine how Joshua must have felt? He likely wrestled with feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and discouragement. The task was enormous, and he must have wondered, “How am I supposed to do this?”
But let’s be honest—that’s how many of us feel when we consider what God calls us to do. We may know passage that say things like, “God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ”. We understand that we are also called to bear the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. But when we look at ourselves, we think, “That’s too big a job for me. Maybe someone else can do it, but I can’t.”
Yet, God’s call remains. He wants each of us to step into that inheritance He has prepared for us. The question is: How do we do it? How do we move from feeling underprepared, inadequate to possessing the blessings and fulfilling the calling God has given us?
That’s the focus of Joshua 1:1-9. This passage is about preparing for success. God will manifest to Joshua and gives him instructions on how to prepare for the enormous task ahead.
They hadn’t crossed the Jordan yet; they hadn’t faced any battles. This was preparation time, and God was equipping Joshua with what he needed to succeed.
Three times in these verses, God tells Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” This repeated command forms the foundation for the preparation process. Each occurrence of this command highlights a different aspect of what God was teaching Joshua.
Let’s look at the first instance, found in verses 1-6. Here, God begins by reminding Joshua of the task at hand. He says, “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites”
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
(Joshua 1: 4-6)
Then, in verse 4, God lays out the boundaries of the land He was giving them: “The territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.”
Notice how specific God is. He doesn’t just give Joshua a vague idea of what He wants. He clearly defines the borders of the land, making it absolutely clear what Joshua’s mission is.
This wasn’t the first time Joshua had heard this, either. Back in Deuteronomy, Moses had already passed the baton to Joshua. And now, after 30 days of mourning for Moses’ death, God was officially commissioning Joshua to carry out the task he had been called to do.
This pattern parallels what we see in the New Testament. In Ephesians 4:1, the Apostle Paul says, “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul outlines the blessings and calling we have in Christ. Then, beginning in chapter 4, he shifts to the practical and says: “Now go and live it out.”
That’s exactly what’s happening in Joshua 1. God is saying to Joshua, “I’ve called you. Now it’s time to act. Here’s what I want you to do.”
God’s promises to Joshua are clear. In verse 3, He says,
“I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” And in verse 5, He adds, “No one will be able to stand against you. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
With those promises comes the command in verse 6: “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I already promised to their ancestors.”
The message is unmistakable: God is commissioning Joshua to step into the promise. He has spelled out the task in detail, reminding him of the promise, and now calls Joshua to prepare by trusting Him.
So, what can we take away from this? The first step in preparing for spiritual success means first determining the will of God. You must understand clearly what God wants you to do. It seems obvious, but in it a simple truth that often gets overlooked.
We first need to ask ourselves questions like. What is it that God wants for your life? What promises has He made to you in His Word? What specific calling has He placed on your heart?
Before you can move forward, you need to settle these questions. Just as God made His will clear to Joshua, He wants to make His will clear to you. The question is: Are you listening?
As I mentioned earlier there is a New Testament book written by the apostle Paul where we find a passage in the 5th chapter that beautifully sums up what God wants for our lives.
It talks about the the blessing of fruit of the Spirit available to us: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and self-control.
These virtues represent the spiritual territory that God wants each of us to cultivate in our lives.
But let me ask you: Have you sat down and seriously considered the specific areas of your life where God wants you to grow? Have you laid out that territory? Because, like Joshua, once you identify it, God calls you to go and take it.
Today I sometimes here preachers saying thing like what you, "What you say is what you get." Maybe you’ve heard that idea before—this belief that whatever you declare with your mouth you can manifest.
But this teaching is dangerous because it’s not biblical. It suggests that God exists to fulfill our desires, as if we’re the masters and He’s the servant.
Yes, God blesses. Yes, God heals. But let me be clear: God’s ultimate will is not that everyone be wealthy, healthy, or free from difficulty. Jesus Himself said, "The poor you will always have with you." And throughout Scripture, we see that God often uses trials to shape us. What God truly wants is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son—to grow in spiritual maturity, love, joy, peace, and patience.
If you’re going to be spiritually wealthy, you must first determine who God’s is and what his will for you actually is—not what you want it to be.
And here’s the reality. Challenges will come. Some preachers would have you believe that walking with God means a life free of trouble, but the Bible often says otherwise. In fact, Philippians 1:29 says, "It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him." God often uses adversity to refine us and make us better, not to punish us.
Now, let’s take a moment to apply this. Marriage is a good example. God’s Word doesn’t promise perfect circumstances al of your married life. Instead, it calls you to be faithful. The degree of happiness you experience in marriage isn’t determined by your spouse; it’s determined by your willingness to obey God’s commands and love that other person unconditonally.
This brings us to verses 7 and 8 of Joshua 1, where God gives Joshua another clear directive:
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
(Joshua 1: 7-8)
In verses 1–6, God tells Joshua what to do: go and take the land. Now, in verses 7–8, He tells Joshua how to do it: And it’s by obeying His Word.
Success, according to God, isn’t about strategy or strength; it’s about obedience.
“Do not turn from it to the right hand or the left." Faithfulness requires focus. You can’t afford to get distracted or compromise on God’s commands.
"Meditate on it day and night." God’s Word must shape every aspect of your life. It’s not enough to read it occasionally; you need to reflect on it constantly, letting it guide your decisions and actions.
"Be strong and very courageous." Obedience also takes courage because it often goes against the grain of culture and our own desires.
If we want to experience true success—spiritual success—we must start with God’s Word. Determine what God has said, and then decide to obey it as fully as you can. That’s how you prosper in God’s kingdom.
So, let me leave you with this: are you willing to lay out the spiritual territory God wants you to take? Are you willing to align your life with His Word, even when it’s hard?
If you are, then be strong and courageous, because God promises to be with you every step of the way.
If you want to live a successful spiritual life, it starts with that decision—determining in your heart to follow His Word and His will, no matter what.
But the great thing is that once you have made that decision, God gives us three essential steps to spiritual success:
1. Meditate on His Word.
2. Speak about His Word.
3. Obeying His Word.
Let’s draw this together by taking a closer look at each one.
Step 1: Meditate on the Word.
The first step is to meditate on God’s Word. Joshua 1:8 says, “You shall meditate in it day and night.” The phrase “day and night” is a Jewish expression that means all your waking hours. It doesn’t mean you’re sitting down with your Bible 24/7, but it does mean that the Word of God is never far from your thoughts.
Think about it: What do you spend your time meditating on? Some of us spend all day worrying—running through our problems, fears, and frustrations over and over again. If you’re going to do what God says, you’ve got to change what you think about. You’ve got to replace worry with the Word. Think about how helpful just this one step might be in helping those of us who suffer from anxiety.
Start by reading the Bible every morning, perhaps read the passage we are going to study in our daily time together, even if it’s just a short passage.
Read it slowly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully. Then, carry it with you throughout the day. Meditate on it. Reflect on it. Memorize it even.
If you’re constantly filling your mind with the Word of God, it will shape your thoughts, your decisions, and your actions. You can’t obey what you don’t know, so start with meditation.
Step 2: Talk About the Word
Notice what else verse 8 said: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth.” Now, if I were writing this, I’d expect it to say, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mind.” After all, we’re talking about meditating on Scripture. But God specifically says, “your mouth.”
Why? Because what you talk about reveals what’s in your heart. If you’re meditating on the Word, it will naturally overflow into your conversations.
God told Joshua to keep the Word on his lips at all times. So talk about it, share it, and let it shape the way he communicated with others.
Here’s a practical challenge: Start talking about the Bible with the people around you who are Christians. Share what you’re learning. Talking about it can just mean ask questions about passages you don’t understand. Even if you don’t know much yet, just start the conversation and you will learn more.
Some people only want to talk about the latest new, their jobs, or their hobbies—but they never talk about the Word.
If we’re going to grow spiritually, we need to make the Word of God a regular part of our conversations. Talk about it when you’re with family, friends, or fellow believers. And here’s why: When you stop talking about the Word, you’ll stop thinking about it. And when you stop thinking about it, you’ll stop living it.
Step 3: Do What the Word Says.
The third step is simple but vital: Obey the Word. Verse 8 says, “That you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.” Meditation and conversation are important, but they’re not enough. You’ve got to act on what you’ve learned.
Earlier in verse 2, God said to Joshua, “Get up and go.” Now in verse 8, He’s saying, “Meditate on My Word, talk about My Word, and then do what it says.” It’s not enough to know God’s commands; you have to live them out.
The truth is spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentionality. So, let me ask you: Are you putting God’s Word into practice? Are you loving your neighbor? Forgiving those who hurt you? Sharing the good news of what you have learnt today? These aren’t just ideas to think about; they’re actions to live out.
Finally, let’s look at verse 9:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Step 4: Don’t Be Paralyzed by Fear
Fear can be paralyzing. Joshua had plenty of reasons to be afraid—the unknown challenges ahead, the size of the enemy, and the weight of leadership after Moses’ death. But God says, “Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Here’s the key: Don’t let fear consume your thoughts. Don’t let it control your decisions. Instead, focus on God’s promises. God doesn’t just give Joshua a command; He gives him a reason not to fear: “For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
When you’re tempted to be afraid, remember that God is with you. He’s not asking you to do this on your own. His presence gives you the strength and courage to face whatever lies ahead.
Bringing It All Together.
So how do we live a successful spiritual life? It starts with a decision to obey God’s Word. Then, we follow the process laid out in Joshua 1:8:
· Meditate on the Word—Think about it day and night.
· Talk about the Word—Share it in your conversations.
· Do what the Word says—Put it into action.
· Don’t let fear stop you—Trust in God’s presence and promises.
What do you think about all day long? What do you talk about with others? If you want to be spiritually successful, start with God’s Word. Meditate on it, talk about it, live it out, and trust Him to walk with you every step of the way.
Joshua will face many obstacles. On top of everything else, the Jordan River was overflowing its banks, and here he was, leading over two million people with no boats, no bridges. The challenge before him must have seemed insurmountable. It’s no wonder he could have felt discouraged.
Yet, God told him to go, and. “Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Do not be dismayed. Just go and do what I’ve called you to do.”
But God didn’t just say, “Don’t be afraid.” He gave Joshua a reason to have courage: He told him “For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Earlier, in verse 5, God had promised, “No man shall be able to stand against you; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”
Joshua wasn’t alone. As he moved forward in obedience to God’s Word, he would experience God’s presence in a powerful way.
It’s a beautiful paradox: God’s presence becomes most evident as we act in faith and trust Him.
God didn’t say, “I’ll be with you, and then you can go.” He said, “Go, and I’ll be with you.” It’s in the process of following God’s commands that we experience His presence.
Joshua was already practicing what God had instructed him. When he faced the challenge of crossing the Jordan River, he remembered the miracles God had worked in the past. He recalled how Moses had led the people through the Red Sea, and suddenly, he realized: If God could part the Red Sea, He could certainly part the Jordan River. This remembering must have encouraged Joshua’s soul.
In this passage, God’s commissioning of Joshua is clear. He calls him to go, to clearly determine His will, and then to be determined to do it. Over and over in this passage, God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous. Three times, God says, “Be strong and of good courage.”
The Hebrew words for “strong” and “good courage” are powerful. “Strong” means to be firm, courageous, but also confident. “courageous” means to be bold, alert, and unwavering. Together, these words call us to be unshaken, ready to act no matter the obstacles. These two words mean “determined to take action.”
If you want to achieve what God has for you, you need that same determination. First, you must clearly know what God’s will is through His Word. And then, you need to be determined to do it.
You can’t be fainthearted. You can’t give up at the first sign of difficulty. You must have a strong heart, a bold spirit. And God promises that if you’re determined to follow His will, He will be with you and you will succeed.
General Montgomery in the second world war once said that there are three keys to success in battle:
· Firepower,
· Knowledge of the enemy’s strategy, and
· Courage.
But the most important of these is courage. Without courage, all the firepower and strategy in the world won’t matter.
And the same is true for your spiritual life. If you want to experience all that God has for you, you need to determine what His will is and then be determined to follow through with it, no matter what.
So, I ask you: Are you determined? Are you willing to press forward, no matter the obstacles, and follow God’s will for your life? If you are, then God promises to be with you. You will be successful, not in your own strength, but because of His presence and power in you.
To prepare for success, make up your mind today: Make up your mind to follow God’s Word, no matter what the cost.
Commit to reflecting on His word, discussing it, and embodying its principles in your daily life.
And when the going gets tough, remember that He is with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. He is faithful. And if you are determined to follow Him, you will succeed and be spiritually blessed.