WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:01.360 Good morning. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:04.559 Copy of God's Word, Joshua chapter one. 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:09.119 We're gonna be looking at Joshua chapter one, verses one through nine this morning. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:13.599 Brendan and I are thrilled to be here uh with you this morning. 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:15.679 I feel like we're among friends. 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:18.559 Um, you know, we spent time with Mike and Angie. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:26.960 And great to have Pastor Paul and Sue here and Dave, you know, just uh just having those relationships as I'm looking out over the crowd. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:33.200 Some of you look familiar to me, some of you don't look familiar to me, but so it's great to be here together. 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:34.880 Happy anniversary. 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:39.759 Wow, you guys are like so jacked up about this. 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:46.880 Hey, listen, this is how my granddaughter, my my granddaughter would say, You're five years old. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:48.640 Five years old. 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:51.119 It's so so amazing to be to be that. 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:53.119 This is like a big milestone. 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:55.759 Like every five years is a big milestone. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:01:04.239 I know at my house, every five years, especially now at my age, every five years, it's like a significant, it's a significant milestone. 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:09.439 That's when you kind of get together as a family and you pull out all the old photos, right? 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:22.079 And you look back and you talk about as Dave kind of worked our way through the timeline of the process, and we're thinking about wow, like just think there were people praying for this place 14 years ago. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:24.319 That's pretty amazing. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:35.760 That's pretty amazing, you know, and you think, wow, like who are the people, what was going through their minds when they were thinking about some of you who were part of that group are thinking, man, I'll tell you some of the questions we had. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:37.040 All the different things. 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:47.599 You you're thinking about when you started, how you started, uh hearing the stories about your first anniversary and praying to God that the the fire trucks don't show up again this morning. 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:49.200 You know, all these different things. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:52.879 That's what you do every five years, right? 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:54.239 It's a milestone. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:57.439 This is amazing what God has done. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:01:59.359 So, so amazing. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:02.560 It's a look back, it's also a look ahead. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:08.879 You know, every few years, my wife and I will sit down on the couch and we'll go, wow, look at what God has done. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:10.479 Isn't this amazing what he's done? 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.479 I wonder what he's got left to do. 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:13.520 Right? 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:15.919 Thinking about the next five years. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:24.800 Kind of reminds me of Barnabas when he showed up at the church at Antioch for the first time in Acts chapter 11. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:31.599 It says, he showed up and he saw the grace of God and he was glad. 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:35.759 I'm glad I've been here this morning. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:42.319 To watch two testimonies of God's faith, his transforming work, and two men's lives. 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:44.159 That's awesome. 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:44.800 That's amazing. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:51.120 I'm glad I'm here to hear about the story of God's grace and how he has carried you along as a church. 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:51.759 I'm glad. 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:55.280 We need to, you get you gotta celebrate what God has done, right? 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:56.639 And what he's doing. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:00.879 Some of you have been saved here at this church. 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:06.560 Your lives have been changed, marriages have been restored. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:11.759 Many of you have learned how to become a passionate worshiper of the Lord. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:14.719 Some of you are stepping out now and sharing your faith. 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:20.479 Many of you have learned what fervent prayer is like as being part of this church family. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:24.800 He saw the grace of God and he was glad. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:26.879 He looked back. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:28.719 It's a look back, it's so important. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:40.960 But not only did Barnabas, uh, not only was he glad, and not only did he see the grace of God and he was glad, but he also exhorted them to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:43.439 And so today that's what we're gonna do. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:04:01.120 We're we're looking back, we're thinking about all the great things that God has done, we're celebrating all the great things that God has done the past five years, but we're also looking forward, longing, if the Lord does not return, to see another five years of faithfulness and steadfast purpose. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:04.319 And here's the thing. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:07.840 I am convinced of this to be true. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.000 I am convinced of this. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:17.439 That the only way that that will happen is if you are strong and courageous. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.920 And here we are in Joshua chapter 1, verses 1 through 9. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:26.079 This is uh an amazing story. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:30.800 Moses has just died, and now it's Joshua's turn to lead. 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:37.759 You just actually don't look at Joshua chapter 1, just look at Deuteronomy chapter 34. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:40.720 And my Bible is like the page right next to it. 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:46.720 Deuteronomy chapter 34, verse 7 describes the kind of leader that Moses was. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:52.319 He was on, it says in verse 7 that he was 120 years old when he died. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:56.319 His eye was undimmed and his vigor unabated. 00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:00.079 That's like amazing. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:05.360 Some of you have for some of you, those those words just go flying right over your head. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:08.319 They do not fly over my head at all. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:14.480 He was 120 years old, his eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:18.240 And then it goes on and describes the kind of leadership he had in verse 10. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:23.519 There has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:37.600 None like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:41.439 And now you're Joshua. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.240 And you're following that. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:46.639 Right? 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:48.079 You're following that. 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:50.879 I mean, how would you like to follow that kind of leader? 00:05:51.040 --> 00:06:01.040 The reins of leadership are being passed, they're being handed down to Joshua in one of the most important moments in the history of the nation of Israel. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:08.720 And the question hanging over Joshua's head is this Are you worthy to fill Moses' sandals? 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:12.480 Is this going to work out? 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:27.839 And God says to Joshua, After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, verse 2 of Joshua chapter 1. 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:31.040 Moses, my servant, is dead. 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:40.079 Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:46.800 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given to you just as I promised to Moses. 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:59.600 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the great sea, toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:06.000 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.480 Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:11.120 I will not leave you or forsake you. 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:19.600 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:28.079 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses, my servant, commanded you. 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:35.920 Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:45.360 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.319 For then you will make your way prosperous. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:49.680 Thank you. 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:53.759 And then you will have good success. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:55.839 Have I not commanded you? 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:57.600 Be strong and courageous. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:02.319 Do not be frightened, do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:04.160 Wherever you go. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:06.959 The word of the Lord. 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:10.560 To Joshua and also to us. 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:14.560 Three times. 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:22.000 God says to Joshua, be strong and courageous. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:26.160 Verse 6, verse 7, and verse 9. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:28.560 It's a command. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:31.040 Not an option. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:33.279 Not a wish. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:36.000 Not a hope. 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:38.159 It's a command. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:40.480 It's not a suggestion. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:47.600 And Joshua's success depends on whether or not he is strong and courageous. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:56.720 And so this morning I want to just say to you, I want to remind you this of all the amazing things that God has done for you so far. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:01.039 And I've seen the grace of God, and I am glad. 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:17.120 Of all these amazing things that God, your personal faithfulness to the Lord and your steadfastness and purpose depends on whether you or not you're going to be strong and courageous for the next five years. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:27.679 Your faithfulness to the Lord and steadfastness and purpose as an entire church family depends on how strong and courageous you're going to be as a church. 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:38.080 So let's pray right now before we dive into the rest of the story. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:51.120 Father, I I sense right now that this is a room full of people who truly want to please you. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:56.480 They want to be faithful to you, they want to be steadfast in purpose. 00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:02.399 They know that in their own lives that they have much to thank you for. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:07.519 The grace of God is so evident, and they are glad of the grace of God. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:14.080 So, Father, I pray right now that you would help us as we glean from your word. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:19.440 Spirit, would you please speak to our hearts through your word as only you can do? 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:25.679 Speak directly to our hearts and teach us how it is that we can be strong and courageous for you. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:28.639 Please, Lord. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:31.120 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:32.080 Amen. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:38.639 Why is it so important that we are strong and courageous? 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:39.919 Here's your first point. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:45.279 The reason why it's so important is because the opposition is real. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:49.279 Joshua knew that. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:58.879 When Joshua is receiving these words from God, he knew what God was asking him to do by taking the people over the Jordan. 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:04.399 He was one of the original spies that went and spied out the promised land. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:07.279 Remember that story in Numbers chapter 13 here. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:16.159 Look at Numbers chapter 13, verses 27 and 28, when they're as the spies are coming back and they're reporting on what they found out about the land. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:19.759 They said, We came to the land that to which you sent us. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:23.440 It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:29.120 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.519 And then it says this in verse 31. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:38.480 Well, that's what the majority of the spies thought. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:41.519 And there was Caleb and Joshua said, Yeah, that's true. 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:47.840 They are stronger than we are, but we still need to do this, and that's all part of the backdrop of Joshua's life. 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:49.759 And here he is in Joshua chapter 1. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:52.240 He knows, he saw them. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:58.559 In Numbers chapter 13, it describes them, the people they were like Nephilim, like giants. 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:04.320 They're stronger, they were bigger, they were smarter, they were faster. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:07.200 They had more than what they had. 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:11.440 They had all these amazing things that were going for them. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:12.080 They had that. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:13.360 He had seen the land. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:14.879 He knew what the people were like. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:17.279 He knew the opposition was real. 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:20.480 So do we. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:26.799 We know that the opposition to the gospel of Jesus Christ is real. 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:28.320 It's real. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:33.840 It's true of our own lives, of our own internal struggles. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:44.879 Internally, we struggle with this real reality daily, a battle for our minds and a battle for our hearts, an ongoing struggle with sin. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:46.799 Right? 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:57.279 I know I am not the only person here in this room that every single day has a daily struggle and battle in the mind and the heart over sin. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:03.679 I am in Christ, so I'm not underneath the dominion of sin. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:19.120 Sin doesn't control me, but I still have this struggle, this ongoing struggle with sin, to want to be led by the Spirit of God, to walk in the Spirit, to be in step with the Spirit, and yet it's such a struggle for that to actually happen in my life. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:21.360 Hey, the opposition is real. 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:22.639 Right? 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:23.600 It's real. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:24.799 It's real. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:27.919 And then we think about our culture. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:35.039 Not only what's happening inside me, the battle that's going on inside me, but then I think about the culture. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:44.000 Increasingly, we live in a country, in a world that is not friendly to the gospel and the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:48.720 True? 00:13:50.799 --> 00:14:20.159 I mean, to speak of the image of God in terms of male and female only in a transgender culture, or to teach God's design of marriage that is only between a man and a woman, or to stand up for the sanctity of life, for the rights of the unborn baby, or even against things like medically assisted death. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:25.679 Is it simple to do? 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.240 It's not this it's not simple to do that. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:29.679 Why is it not simple to do that? 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:33.919 Because the opposition, the challenge, is real. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:35.840 It's real. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:38.879 When you follow Jesus, the challenge is real. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:45.759 We are commanded to be strong and courageous because the challenge to the gospel of Jesus Christ is very real. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:53.360 What that means then is that we can't be, even though the even though it is real, we're called to be strong and courageous. 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:57.039 So what that means is we can't be gripped by fear. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:59.120 You see this picture on the screen? 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.440 This picture of fear? 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:03.919 That's my greatest fear. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:22.240 When we first got married, we were looking for an apartment to rent, and we it was very difficult to find places to rent where we were, and we finally decided on the seventh floor in an apartment building. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:30.960 And uh we had a balcony on the seventh floor, and occasionally I would go out on the balcony, but I would always be back up against the brick wall, right? 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.000 Like it's like this. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.279 Oh, yeah, that looks real good. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:38.639 I hardly, I wouldn't, I you will never find me up by the railing going, hey everybody, how's it going? 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:42.159 No, I'm the guy, I'm the guy back up against the wall. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:52.639 I remember one trip we took out west and we decided to go out visit the the mountains, you know, the Rocky Mountains, and we decided, hey, let's take a gondola ride up the top of Whistler. 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:54.159 This would be amazing. 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:57.279 And I thought, yeah, you know, okay, I'll stretch myself. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.000 It's not that bad. 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:09.519 The gondola was enclosed, and you know, I, you know, at the bottom I made sure I understood how it was all gonna work, you know, it's gonna go, there'll be different stations it will stop at, and then it'll go on to another one. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:19.360 So off we went up the, you know, we passed the first station, and you know, I'm I'm you know, every occasion I look down and go, wow, that's a really that's a long way, that's a really long way down. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:25.120 You know, I hope this thing, I hope this this little rope thing, cable thing we're on doesn't snap or anything like that. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:33.200 I'm thinking all all the worst case scenarios coming through my mind, and then we pass one station and all of a sudden we're going to the next station and the thing stopped. 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.799 Like it, can you believe it? 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.320 It just stopped. 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:42.960 I'm freaking out about it right now, even as I'm talking about it. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.000 It stopped. 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:55.679 And then the people I was with, the people that I thought loved me, they decided to get up and and kind of move around in this gondola that was totally stopped. 00:16:55.759 --> 00:17:00.159 And all of a sudden it starts to move, it starts to shake, and I'm going, sit down. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:02.320 Everybody sit down. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.759 That's what it's that's what it's like. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:09.599 That's what it's like to be to be afraid. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:16.240 When you are gripped by fear, you say, I can't do this, I won't do this, I'm not going to do this. 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:31.599 You see, in verse 9, in verse 9 of chapter 1, just kind of go down to the end of this paragraph, chat at verse 9, it says, Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous, do not be frightened, do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:35.519 He defines for them what it means to be strong and courageous. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:39.519 He uses two-word couplets here to define that. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:45.519 On one side you have strong and courageous, on the other side you have don't be frightened and don't be dismayed. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:53.039 Being frightened and dismayed is to be terrified, is to be disheartened, it's to be shattered. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:18:00.720 To be strong and courageous is to see something, to grasp something, to take hold of it, to make it firm. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:08.240 He's saying to him, Joshua, I want you to take hold of this, I want you to grab onto this, I want you to make it firm. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:13.279 I don't want your heart to be shattered or disheartened or terrified. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:26.880 In the face of the challenge that we know is very real, in the face of the opposition that we know is real, church, church, God is calling us to be strong and courageous. 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:51.359 Calling us to be strong and courageous, not complacent, not apathetic, indifferent, and just detached, not trapped, not retreating, but full out embracing the call on all of our lives to make disciples of Jesus Christ for his glory. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.680 That's what he's saying. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:55.759 Be strong, be courageous. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:04.640 You want to be faithful to me, you want to be steadfast and purpose, you've got to grab on to this, you've got to make it your own, you've got to hold on to it tight. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:09.359 Be strong, be courageous. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.720 Well, okay, great. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:14.480 How do I do that? 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.960 Glad you asked. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.160 Three things. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:26.799 Here's the first thing trust God because he keeps his promises. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.240 Look at verse one. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:36.160 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, Moses, my servant, is dead. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:43.759 Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:49.920 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:59.519 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, and all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea, toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:03.440 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:06.000 Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.680 I will not leave you or forsake you. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:14.480 Be strong, courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:22.640 See, being being strong and courageous is not something that you just muster up in your heart. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:31.359 It's not like a it's not a marketing slogan or a motivational phrase that you put on your t-shirt that you wear every day. 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:35.519 Or it's not two words you write on your bathroom mirror every morning. 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:39.440 So when you wake up, it's the first thing you say, oh, it's supposed to be strong and courageous. 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:41.279 So I guess I have to be strong and courageous. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:43.599 Yeah, I'll be strong and courageous. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:47.119 That's not what how you become strong and courageous. 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:49.119 It's not about trying harder. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:52.720 Some people think that, well, I gotta be strong, I gotta be courageous. 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:55.039 That means I just gotta strike, I gotta try harder. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:57.359 You know, I gotta try harder. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:03.359 No, it's not about being harder, it's a product of trusting in the God who keeps his promises. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:13.920 And when we live in a world of broken promises, it's difficult sometimes to trust anyone to keep a promise. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:32.960 I think of the little boy who lived in a home where his mom and dad made promises to each other and then made promises to him only to find out that those promises got broken, and that little boy then grows up to be a man, and he has a hard time trusting anyone. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.480 Why? 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:48.160 Because he grew he's grown up in a world where promises have been broken, and to varying degrees, we all struggle with keeping promises and trusting others to keep their promises. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:52.960 But here's the question Is God different? 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.559 Is he different? 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.839 Is he like that? 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.759 Is he like us, or is he different? 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.440 Different from that. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:07.359 Just think about, just think about all the promises. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:13.359 If you're in Christ, if you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, that He has actually saved you. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:15.440 He saved you. 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:20.799 And you've placed your faith in that through the work of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:22.799 Just think about all these promises. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.799 Can I have these on screen here? 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.400 Think about this. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:31.359 Ephesians chapter 1 says that he has chosen you before the foundation of the world. 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.519 Wow. 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:36.400 That's a fancy word called election. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.759 He chose you. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:39.359 He's regenerated you. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:45.599 That's the work of the Holy Spirit on your soul to make you a new creation in Jesus Christ. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:50.000 He's allowed you to become converted. 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:54.960 In other words, he's given the ability to actually repent of your sin and move in a new direction. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:57.440 You actually are moving in a whole new direction. 00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:06.559 Your life used to be going this direction, and now because of the Spirit of God in you, you're able to go this direction to his honor, to his glory. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:14.559 A total change of mind, a total change of heart, a total transformation in your direction. 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:19.519 You've been justified, declared to be righteous. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.680 Really? 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:30.640 Those of you who are not righteous, that's all of us in this room, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:32.960 None of us is righteous. 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:43.920 God says you are, he sees you as righteous. 00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:51.039 He declares you to be righteous, not because of your righteousness, it's because of Jesus Christ's righteousness. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:52.720 You're in Christ. 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:57.359 That's what He promised to do for you. 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.559 He's justified you. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:06.240 He's adopted you, it says in the book of Galatians, that you've actually been adopted. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:10.400 God chose you and brought you into his family. 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.720 That's so cool. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:24.720 He's sanctifying us. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.880 Changing us. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:31.039 Helping us work out our salvation. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:37.839 Day by day, step by step, year by year, moment by moment. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:39.920 Changing us. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:43.440 All things work together for good. 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:53.039 Philippians 1.6 says that he who has begun a good work on you will bring it to completion in the day of Jesus Christ. 00:24:53.359 --> 00:25:00.160 And then this beautiful, beautiful thing that God has promised us, absolute glorification. 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:11.920 That one day, one day we leave all the curse of sin behind, and we enter into the new heavens and the new earth, and we live for eternity with God and his saints. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:17.200 All of those are promises for you. 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:19.279 And Jesus Christ. 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:21.119 So I ask you the question again. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:24.400 Is God different? 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:31.279 John 10 verses 27 and 28 says this. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:40.000 And no one will snatch them out of my hand. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:43.440 Is God different? 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:55.200 Jesus in Matthew chapter 16, verse 18 said, He said, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.440 Come on. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:59.680 Is God different? 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:13.599 Acts chapter 1, verse 8 says this, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit is upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.279 Is God different? 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:28.960 You will only be strong and courageous when you trust in a God who is different. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:32.480 A God who keeps his promises. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.880 He keeps his promises. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.480 He keeps his promises. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:40.799 Here, here's the second, second, our third point, but the second how. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:48.319 The second how is this you can be strong and courageous when you put your confidence in God, knowing that he is always present. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:27:00.640 You see in verse 5, in Joshua chapter 1, verse 5, he says, No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life, just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:03.839 I will not leave you or forsake you. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:07.279 And then in verse 9, he says again, the same theme. 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:13.279 He says, Don't be frightened, don't be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:18.960 Nothing is more empowering than knowing that you're not alone. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:29.440 And yet, how many of us, even in a room this size, surrounded by all of these people, feel sometimes all alone? 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:39.359 Even in your own homes or your own workplaces, even when you're in your own small group, is there not times when you feel like you're all alone? 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:46.640 And when that happens, we tend to do really kind of crazy things in our minds and our hearts. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:49.599 We think, wow, no one really understands what I'm going through. 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:52.400 The weight of the world just seems to be on our shoulders. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:55.200 We have no way that we can let go of those things. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.960 Listen, listen to it, listen to this. 00:27:57.279 --> 00:28:07.279 Whatever situation you find yourself in, wherever you find yourself, whatever situation you're in, if you are in Christ, you are not alone. 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.519 Never alone. 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:20.160 Let that sink in and transform every single day of your life. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:22.240 When you wake up, you're not alone. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:24.640 When you go to sleep, you're not alone. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:26.559 You're not alone. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:32.480 I mean, consider God's track record here. 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.920 Look at what it says in verse 5. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:37.839 He says, as I was with Moses, I will be with you. 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:41.200 Like Joshua's thinking, wow, that's important for me to know that. 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:47.839 If you're like that with Moses and you're going to be like that with me, that's pretty important to know that you're going to be present with me. 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:50.160 And then I think about us, I think about, you know what? 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:53.119 God was with a lot of people in Scripture. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.079 Right? 00:28:54.319 --> 00:29:09.759 Abraham, he was with Abraham, he's with Jacob, he's with Joseph, he's with Moses, he's with Joshua, he's with David, he's with Daniel, he's with many of the other prophets. 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:17.440 He's with the Apostle Paul, he's with the Apostle Peter, he's with James and John. 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:31.119 He's with all those people listening to Hebrews chapter 11, even the ones that we don't have names for, he was with them. 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:36.240 That's a pretty good track record. 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:40.640 And you and I follow, we follow. 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:43.200 Somewhere along the line, we follow. 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:46.720 Our names follow the same list, and he was with us. 00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:49.359 He's with you, he's with me, he's with us. 00:29:51.920 --> 00:30:04.400 Verse 5 tells us that he never abandons us, he never leaves us by the side of the road, he never all of a sudden gets more interested in someone else and leaves us behind. 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:07.279 I love that about God. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.000 Right? 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:15.519 It's not like he's interested in you in one moment and then just loses interest in you and goes off somewhere else. 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.400 No, no, no. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:20.480 He's always with you, he never abandons you, he will not leave you, forsake you. 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:25.839 Hebrews 13, 5 quotes this verse and then says, This, what can man do to me? 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:36.640 Verse 9, it says, Wherever we go, wherever we go, it says here in chapter 1, verse 9, wherever we go, there's no place that we are alone. 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:57.599 Didn't Jesus say that in Matthew chapter 28 and verses 19 and 20, when he says, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:03.440 You want to be strong and courageous? 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:09.200 You've got to trust that God is different. 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:30.160 You can trust in his promises, and then you have to have this confidence that he is present right now, right here, in this place, the Spirit of God is here in you and with us. 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:36.000 This is a this is so holy what we're doing. 00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:41.440 It's a mystery that the God of this universe is present with us. 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.920 And then there's this. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:49.200 If you're going to be strong and courageous, you have to do this. 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:51.359 You have to be resolved to obey God's word. 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.799 You see it in verse 7? 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:54.240 Look at verse 7. 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:05.519 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses, my servant, commanded you. 00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:11.039 Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:20.720 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:26.160 For when then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:30.079 Be strong and courageous. 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:32.079 Be resolved to obey God's word. 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:33.440 Obey God's word. 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:34.960 Did you see the breakdown? 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:37.440 He says, Be careful, first of all. 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.240 Be careful. 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:40.400 That means you gotta know it and you gotta do it. 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.279 Be careful. 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:44.720 Then he says, Don't turn from the right to the left, right? 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:47.039 This is the path you're supposed to be on. 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:50.319 These words that I've given you, this is the path that you're on. 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:52.079 Don't turn from the right to the left. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:54.079 Just stay on this path. 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:56.160 It shall not depart from your mouth. 00:32:56.240 --> 00:33:00.319 In other words, say it over and over again, rehearse it over and over again. 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:03.039 Say it out loud over and over again. 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:05.039 Don't let it depart from your mouth. 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:07.920 He says, meditate on it day and night. 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:10.160 Reflect on it. 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:13.119 Remember it. 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:14.559 Rehearse it. 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.640 And then he ends. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.759 Be careful. 00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:19.759 Make sure you do it. 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:23.039 There's no other plan. 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:24.319 This is it. 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.839 This is the plan. 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:28.079 No other plan. 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:30.000 No other way. 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:31.279 No other direction. 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:33.119 This is the plan. 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:36.319