1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:26,280 Good morning. 2 00:00:27,900 --> 00:00:31,060 We are glad that you are here with us this morning. 3 00:00:31,060 --> 00:00:34,840 One of the things that we've started in September, 4 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:41,840 as we've been working on some Bible memorization for the kids at any point, 5 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:47,120 so what we want to do is we're going to review last week's verse. 6 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:48,960 Derek put it up there. 7 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,120 We'll read that, and then we'll read the one we're working on this week. 8 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:53,100 So if you'd read with me, 9 00:00:53,740 --> 00:00:56,640 My soul melts away for sorrow. 10 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:00,240 Strengthen me according to your word. 11 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,280 And the one we're working on this week. 12 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:05,100 I don't know if you can read that or not. 13 00:01:05,100 --> 00:01:05,780 It's very bright. 14 00:01:05,780 --> 00:01:09,560 Well, this helps you memorize because you just got to guess what the words are. 15 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:13,640 2 Timothy 1.7, if you want to look it up, it says, 16 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:22,780 For God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control. 17 00:01:23,740 --> 00:01:29,240 And so that's one of those graphics that looks great on your computer, not so much on the screen in the church. 18 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:36,340 So there's a lesson, I'm sure there's a lesson to be learned there, whether we learn it, that's for another day. 19 00:01:36,340 --> 00:01:41,920 We're going to go ahead and have a word of prayer and then we'll stand and read from the Psalms together and begin our time of worship. 20 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:46,360 Father in heaven, thank you for allowing us to be here this morning. 21 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,780 We thank you for your grace. 22 00:01:48,780 --> 00:01:51,180 We thank you for how you care for us. 23 00:01:51,180 --> 00:01:55,120 We just ask that you would strengthen us according to your word. 24 00:01:55,120 --> 00:02:00,420 We just ask that you would help us to remember that you are with us. 25 00:02:00,420 --> 00:02:04,480 Your spirit is in us, equipping us and strengthening us for the work that you have for us. 26 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,060 Be with us during our time of worship this morning. 27 00:02:07,060 --> 00:02:09,140 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 28 00:02:09,140 --> 00:02:15,920 We're going to stand together and read from the 63rd Psalm. 29 00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:20,360 This is a psalm that David wrote while he was in the wilderness. 30 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:27,340 And so he is not just experiencing physical struggle and physical hunger and physical thirst, 31 00:02:27,340 --> 00:02:33,200 but he's also experiencing a spiritual hunger and a spiritual thirst. 32 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:38,260 And so he's seeking to praise God in the midst of that and to cry out to him for help. 33 00:02:38,260 --> 00:02:40,800 So let's go ahead and read, starting in verse 1. 34 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:41,560 It says, 35 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:47,760 Oh my God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you. 36 00:02:48,940 --> 00:02:53,500 My soul thirsts for you, and my flesh faints for you, 37 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:58,760 as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 38 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,720 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, 39 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,340 beholding your power and glory. 40 00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:11,180 Because your steadfast love is better than life, 41 00:03:11,180 --> 00:03:13,700 my lips will praise you, 42 00:03:13,700 --> 00:03:18,180 so I will bless you as long as I live. 43 00:03:18,940 --> 00:03:22,160 In your name I will lift up my hands. 44 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:23,600 This is the word of the Lord. 45 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,660 We're going to start by singing Hosanna, 46 00:03:27,660 --> 00:03:33,360 a word used as Jesus enters into Jerusalem, 47 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:38,180 taken from the Psalms, a cry to God for salvation. 48 00:03:48,940 --> 00:04:13,320 Through praises rising, eyes all turning to you, we turn to you, hope is stirring, hearts 49 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:17,080 Are yearning for you 50 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:21,620 We long for you 51 00:04:21,620 --> 00:04:26,660 Cause when we see you 52 00:04:26,660 --> 00:04:30,440 We find strength to face the day 53 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:35,860 And in your presence 54 00:04:35,860 --> 00:04:39,660 All our fears are washed away 55 00:04:39,660 --> 00:04:42,520 Are washed away 56 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:50,840 Hosanna, Hosanna 57 00:04:50,840 --> 00:04:55,980 You are the God who saves us 58 00:04:55,980 --> 00:05:01,260 Worthy of all our praises 59 00:05:01,260 --> 00:05:11,940 Hear the sound of hearts returning to you 60 00:05:11,940 --> 00:05:16,380 We turn to you 61 00:05:16,380 --> 00:05:24,320 In your kingdom 62 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:30,220 Broken lives are made new 63 00:05:30,220 --> 00:05:34,620 You make all things new 64 00:05:34,620 --> 00:05:39,900 Cause when we see you 65 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:43,620 We find strength to face the dead 66 00:05:43,620 --> 00:05:49,020 And in your presence 67 00:05:49,020 --> 00:05:52,780 All our fears are washed away 68 00:05:52,780 --> 00:05:55,660 Washed away 69 00:05:55,660 --> 00:05:59,780 Hosanna 70 00:05:59,780 --> 00:06:04,000 Hosanna 71 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:09,160 You are the God who saves us 72 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:14,440 Worthy of all our praises 73 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:18,040 Hosanna 74 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:22,320 Hosanna 75 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:27,440 Come every way among us 76 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:31,520 We welcome you here, Lord Jesus 77 00:06:39,160 --> 00:07:01,380 Blessed be your name 78 00:07:01,380 --> 00:07:04,720 And that is plentiful 79 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:08,940 Where the streams of abundance flow 80 00:07:08,940 --> 00:07:11,300 Blessed be your name 81 00:07:11,300 --> 00:07:17,120 Blessed be your name 82 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:21,200 When I'm found in the desert place 83 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,700 Though I walk through the wilderness 84 00:07:24,700 --> 00:07:27,440 Blessed be your name 85 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:33,520 Every blessing you pour out 86 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:36,940 I'll turn back to praise 87 00:07:36,940 --> 00:07:42,020 When the darkness closes in, Lord 88 00:07:42,020 --> 00:07:44,580 Still I will say 89 00:07:44,580 --> 00:07:48,400 Blessed be the name of the Lord 90 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,140 Blessed be your name 91 00:07:51,140 --> 00:07:56,520 Blessed be the name of the Lord 92 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:00,920 Blessed be your glorious name 93 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:14,920 Blessed be your name, when the sun is shining down on me, when the world is all as it should 94 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:15,920 be. 95 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:20,920 Blessed be your name. 96 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:27,920 Blessed be your name, on the road marked with suffering. 97 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:33,940 Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be your name. 98 00:08:33,940 --> 00:08:43,660 Every blessing you pour out, I'll turn back to praise. 99 00:08:43,660 --> 00:08:51,100 When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say, 100 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:58,020 Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your name. 101 00:08:58,020 --> 00:09:07,420 Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your glorious name. 102 00:09:07,420 --> 00:09:15,520 You give and take away, you give and take away. 103 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:23,520 My heart will choose to say, well, blessed be your name. 104 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:31,420 Give and take away, you give and take away. 105 00:09:31,420 --> 00:09:39,500 My heart will choose to say, well, blessed be your name. 106 00:09:39,500 --> 00:09:46,260 Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your name. 107 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:51,480 Blessed be the name of the Lord 108 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:55,580 Blessed be your glorious name 109 00:09:55,580 --> 00:09:59,880 Blessed be the name of the Lord 110 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:02,400 Blessed be your name 111 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:07,980 Blessed be the name of the Lord 112 00:10:07,980 --> 00:10:12,340 Blessed be your glorious name 113 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:46,500 Thank you. 114 00:10:46,520 --> 00:11:16,500 Thank you. 115 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:46,500 I'm sorry. 116 00:11:46,520 --> 00:12:16,500 Thank you. 117 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:17,020 you 118 00:12:46,520 --> 00:13:16,500 Thank you. 119 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:46,500 Thank you. 120 00:13:46,520 --> 00:14:16,500 Thank you. 121 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:32,740 In just a moment we will gather together around the table if you would like to participate with us in that there are communion elements as you come to the door and we invite you to pick those up. 122 00:18:32,740 --> 00:18:44,420 We're going to go ahead and sing Christ our hope in life and death and it begins with a question, not this song, but where this song is taken from. 123 00:18:44,500 --> 00:18:47,040 What is our hope in life and death? 124 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:52,360 And the ultimate answer is that I am not alone because my hope is 125 00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:57,440 because Christ has purchased me with his blood and I belong to him. 126 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,180 So we're going to go ahead and sing this. 127 00:18:59,180 --> 00:19:12,960 What is our hope in life and death? 128 00:19:13,860 --> 00:19:27,180 Christ alone, Christ alone, what is our only confidence that our souls to Him belong? 129 00:19:27,180 --> 00:19:32,040 Who holds our days within His hand 130 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:36,760 What comes apart from His command 131 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:41,580 And what will keep us to the end 132 00:19:41,580 --> 00:19:47,080 The love of Christ in which we stand 133 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:53,460 O sing hallelujah 134 00:19:53,460 --> 00:19:58,420 Our hope springs eternal 135 00:19:58,420 --> 00:20:02,920 Oh, say hallelujah 136 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:06,780 Now and ever we confess 137 00:20:06,780 --> 00:20:10,960 Christ our hope in life and death 138 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:22,620 What truth can cause the troubled soul 139 00:20:22,620 --> 00:20:27,320 God is good, God is good 140 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:32,260 Where is His grace and goodness known 141 00:20:32,260 --> 00:20:36,800 In a great Redeemer's blood 142 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:41,560 Who holds our faith when fears arise 143 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:46,260 Who stands above the stormy trial 144 00:20:46,260 --> 00:20:51,100 Who sends the waves that bring us nigh 145 00:20:51,100 --> 00:20:56,480 Unto the shore the rock of Christ 146 00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:00,540 Oh, sing hallelujah 147 00:21:00,540 --> 00:21:05,320 Our hope springs eternal 148 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:10,020 Oh, sing hallelujah 149 00:21:10,020 --> 00:21:13,880 Now and ever we confess 150 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:18,060 Christ our hope in life and death 151 00:21:21,100 --> 00:21:29,620 And to the grave, what will we sing? 152 00:21:29,620 --> 00:21:32,000 Christ, he lives. 153 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,360 Christ, he lives. 154 00:21:34,360 --> 00:21:39,080 And what reward will heaven bring? 155 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:43,800 Everlasting life with him. 156 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:48,620 There we will rise to meet the Lord. 157 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:53,920 When sin and death will be destroyed 158 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:58,600 And we will feast in endless joy 159 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:06,040 When Christ is ours forevermore 160 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:11,200 Oh, sing hallelujah 161 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:15,540 Our hope springs eternal 162 00:22:15,540 --> 00:22:27,360 Oh sing hallelujah, now and ever we confess, Christ our hope in life and death. 163 00:22:27,360 --> 00:22:36,900 Oh sing hallelujah, our hope springs eternal. 164 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:41,600 Oh, sing hallelujah. 165 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:49,300 Now and ever we confess Christ our hope in life and death. 166 00:22:49,300 --> 00:22:58,020 Now and ever we confess Christ our hope in life and death. 167 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:16,880 One of the things that I am thankful for is that God reminds us of his goodness. 168 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,840 For example, in the beginning of Genesis after the flood, if you remember, 169 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:27,120 God will make a covenant with Noah, and he will set the rainbow as a reminder 170 00:23:27,120 --> 00:23:29,660 and a testimony to that covenant. 171 00:23:29,660 --> 00:23:33,460 If he was making his covenant with Abraham, he will say to Abraham, 172 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:40,600 Look up at the night sky and see the stars, and that will be like your descendants. 173 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:49,960 In the Psalms, it talks about how the heavens declare the glory of God, how His Word directs us to His goodness. 174 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:58,940 And so, as we gather this morning with this little piece of bread and this little cup of juice, 175 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:04,480 I want us to see what these ultimately direct us to. 176 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,580 John Calvin will say, 177 00:24:06,580 --> 00:24:09,840 the cheapest thing in all sacraments 178 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,480 is that the word of God may appear engraven there 179 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:17,020 and that his clear voice may sound. 180 00:24:17,020 --> 00:24:20,080 And when Jesus takes that bread 181 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,380 and takes the cup after supper, 182 00:24:22,380 --> 00:24:25,380 he's handling two very common objects. 183 00:24:25,380 --> 00:24:28,180 These are objects that for Israel's history 184 00:24:28,180 --> 00:24:37,940 were necessary for survival, bread to nourish, wine to refresh, but not just to sustain life. 185 00:24:37,940 --> 00:24:42,760 There were also pictures, for example, in the Psalms of fellowship and friendship, 186 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:50,880 gifts of bread and of wine. And there are times in Israel's history where the bread and the wine 187 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:55,180 are pictures of both God's blessing and God's judgment. 188 00:24:55,180 --> 00:25:00,000 They also pointed Israel forward to a time 189 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,680 when things would be made right. 190 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:04,460 For example, one of my favorite passages 191 00:25:04,460 --> 00:25:06,660 is Isaiah the 25th chapter 192 00:25:06,660 --> 00:25:09,640 where it pictures God's people on a mountain 193 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:12,220 and it says that God has prepared for them 194 00:25:12,220 --> 00:25:16,580 a feast of rich food and of wine well refined 195 00:25:16,580 --> 00:25:19,020 and he's going to take away their sorrow 196 00:25:19,020 --> 00:25:21,280 because death will be no more. 197 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:23,160 Or Amos will say this, 198 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:25,480 when the plowman overtakes the reaper 199 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:26,680 and the treader of grapes 200 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:28,020 and him who sows seeds, 201 00:25:28,020 --> 00:25:30,660 the mountains shall drip with sweet wine 202 00:25:30,660 --> 00:25:33,200 and the hills will flow with it. 203 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:35,120 A picture of the time 204 00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:37,160 when God would make things right 205 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:39,680 is pictured in both the nourishment 206 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:42,380 and the refreshment of God's people. 207 00:25:42,380 --> 00:25:46,960 But as Jesus takes that bread and that cup, 208 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:53,580 He does so in the midst of Passover where a lamb was slain, 209 00:25:53,580 --> 00:26:01,540 a lamb that would stand between, through his blood, God's people and the angel of death. 210 00:26:01,540 --> 00:26:04,520 Peter will say this about our salvation, 211 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:11,700 knowing that you were ransomed or purchased from the futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 212 00:26:11,700 --> 00:26:15,340 not with perishable things such as silver and gold, 213 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:21,320 but with the precious blood of Christ like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 214 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:26,080 And if you remember how John the baptizer refers to Jesus as he sees him walking, 215 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:31,600 he says, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 216 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:38,420 I think sometimes there's a temptation in the simplicity of the bread and the cup 217 00:26:38,420 --> 00:26:45,180 to take for granted what God is reminding us of, what he's teaching us, 218 00:26:45,420 --> 00:26:47,680 what he's nourishing us with. 219 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,320 That he's the one who sustains us. 220 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:54,180 He's the one who has invited us into his community. 221 00:26:54,180 --> 00:26:57,200 He's the one who blesses us and who corrects us. 222 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,740 He is the one who has prepared a future for us. 223 00:27:00,740 --> 00:27:03,540 And most of all, through the blood of his son, 224 00:27:03,540 --> 00:27:06,080 he is the one who has saved us. 225 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,800 So we're going to pray and we will partake together. 226 00:27:10,540 --> 00:27:15,700 Father in heaven, thank you for this bread and this cup. 227 00:27:15,700 --> 00:27:19,560 We thank you that you are the one who nourishes us. 228 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:24,320 Not just physically, but you nourish our souls and we come to you hungry. 229 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:29,060 I'm asking that you would satisfy the longing of our hearts and the longing of our souls. 230 00:27:29,060 --> 00:27:33,520 We thank you for the community you have brought us into. 231 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:35,980 You have been brought into your family. 232 00:27:35,980 --> 00:27:40,000 We thank you that you bless us and we thank you that you correct us. 233 00:27:40,060 --> 00:27:42,180 and we look forward to the day 234 00:27:42,180 --> 00:27:44,240 when there will be no more sorrow 235 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:45,320 and no more tears. 236 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:47,340 And we thank you most of all 237 00:27:47,340 --> 00:27:48,860 for the gift of your Son, Jesus, 238 00:27:48,860 --> 00:27:51,280 who took our place on the cross, 239 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,980 who took our sin and our brokenness, 240 00:27:53,980 --> 00:27:55,140 and who rose again 241 00:27:55,140 --> 00:27:57,920 and has defeated Satan and hell 242 00:27:57,920 --> 00:27:59,200 and our sin and our fear. 243 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,580 We just ask that you bless this bread 244 00:28:01,580 --> 00:28:02,260 and this cup. 245 00:28:02,260 --> 00:28:05,200 May you nourish our souls 246 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:06,660 and help us to proclaim your Son 247 00:28:06,660 --> 00:28:07,600 until he comes again. 248 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:08,940 In his name we pray. 249 00:28:08,940 --> 00:28:09,700 Amen. 250 00:28:10,060 --> 00:28:15,440 In Matthew, Jesus will take the bread 251 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:17,420 and after blessing it, he will break it 252 00:28:17,420 --> 00:28:19,460 and he will give it to the disciples and say, 253 00:28:19,460 --> 00:28:21,580 take, eat, this is my body. 254 00:28:21,580 --> 00:28:22,460 Let's partake together. 255 00:28:22,460 --> 00:28:28,740 And when he took a cup, he gave thanks 256 00:28:28,740 --> 00:28:29,840 and gave it to them saying, 257 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:31,260 drink of it, all of you, 258 00:28:31,260 --> 00:28:33,540 for this is the blood of the covenant 259 00:28:33,540 --> 00:28:35,140 which is poured out for many 260 00:28:35,140 --> 00:28:36,980 for the forgiveness of sins. 261 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:42,380 And as Paul says in 1 Corinthians, 262 00:28:42,380 --> 00:28:44,960 for as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, 263 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:48,300 we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 264 00:28:48,300 --> 00:28:51,540 Brent's going to come and read to us from the book of Joshua. 265 00:28:51,540 --> 00:29:07,000 I'm going to be reading from the first chapter of Joshua this morning. 266 00:29:08,260 --> 00:29:11,680 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, 267 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:17,040 the Lord said to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 268 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:20,700 Moses, my servant, is dead. 269 00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:24,820 Now, therefore, arise, go over the Jordan, 270 00:29:24,820 --> 00:29:30,200 you and all the people into the land I am giving to them, 271 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:32,340 to the people of Israel. 272 00:29:32,340 --> 00:29:37,700 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, 273 00:29:38,020 --> 00:29:43,580 I have given to you just as I promised to Moses. 274 00:29:43,580 --> 00:29:50,180 From the wilderness and Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, 275 00:29:50,180 --> 00:29:57,960 all the land of the Hittites to the great sea toward the going down of the sun 276 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:00,460 shall be your territory. 277 00:30:00,460 --> 00:30:06,200 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life 278 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:12,780 Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 279 00:30:12,780 --> 00:30:16,820 I will not leave you nor forsake you. 280 00:30:16,820 --> 00:30:27,640 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 281 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:38,240 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses, my servant, commanded you. 282 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:48,360 Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 283 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:56,540 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day 284 00:30:56,540 --> 00:31:04,120 and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all the things written in it. 285 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:12,200 For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 286 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:14,620 Have I not commanded you? 287 00:31:14,620 --> 00:31:17,340 Be strong and courageous. 288 00:31:18,060 --> 00:31:26,420 Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 289 00:31:26,420 --> 00:31:30,540 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 290 00:31:30,540 --> 00:31:35,560 Pass through the midst of the camp, and command the people, 291 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:42,540 Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over the Jordan, 292 00:31:42,780 --> 00:31:49,500 To go in to take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving to you to possess. 293 00:31:49,500 --> 00:31:56,260 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 294 00:31:56,260 --> 00:32:02,180 Remember the word that Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you, saying, 295 00:32:02,180 --> 00:32:08,580 The Lord your God is providing you a place to rest and will give you this land. 296 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:17,280 Your wives and your little ones and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. 297 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:24,580 But all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers. 298 00:32:24,580 --> 00:32:31,840 And shall help them until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has given rest to you. 299 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:37,700 And they also take possession of the land the Lord gave you. 300 00:32:38,220 --> 00:32:45,200 God is giving you. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, 301 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:51,500 the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise. 302 00:32:51,500 --> 00:33:00,340 And they answered to Joshua, all that you have commanded us, we will do, and wherever you send 303 00:33:00,340 --> 00:33:09,020 us, we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, we shall obey you. Only may the 304 00:33:09,020 --> 00:33:15,740 Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your command 305 00:33:15,740 --> 00:33:24,700 and disobeys your words, whatever you commanded him, shall be put to death. Only be strong 306 00:33:24,700 --> 00:33:29,300 and courageous. This is the word of the Lord. Praise be to God. 307 00:33:29,300 --> 00:33:42,540 Alright, we are going to spend a little bit of time in the book of Joshua over the next 308 00:33:42,540 --> 00:33:46,860 couple weeks. We're going to do it a little bit differently than we have done some of 309 00:33:46,860 --> 00:33:52,840 our series. What we're going to do is we're going to kind of break this up into probably 310 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:59,300 about three different parts, each taking probably four or five weeks apiece, so then rather 311 00:33:59,300 --> 00:34:04,220 than going through it all in kind of one big chunk, we'll go through it in kind of a little 312 00:34:04,220 --> 00:34:08,620 chunk, and we'll take a little break with another little chunk, and we'll keep coming 313 00:34:08,620 --> 00:34:09,100 back to it. 314 00:34:09,100 --> 00:34:12,860 So I'm excited to dive into this this morning, so we're going to go ahead and have a word 315 00:34:12,860 --> 00:34:15,580 of prayer, and then we will get into it. 316 00:34:15,580 --> 00:34:21,120 Father in heaven, I just ask that you would be with us this morning as we open your word 317 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:27,080 and as we study your word, may your spirit be with us, may he encourage us and strengthen us 318 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:36,960 and teach us, help us most of all to see your faithfulness, your goodness, and that you are 319 00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:43,140 truly with your people, that you have saved your people. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 320 00:34:43,140 --> 00:34:50,960 Now I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has ever struggled with needs versus wants, right? 321 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:55,060 We've all been there. There's something we see. We say, oh, I need that. 322 00:34:55,060 --> 00:34:58,140 And the reality is absolutely not. I'll give you an example. 323 00:34:58,140 --> 00:35:01,180 Rachel and I, a couple of weeks ago, were in a bookstore. 324 00:35:01,180 --> 00:35:04,280 I enjoy books. I like old books. 325 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:07,520 And so we were walking through and they had like a little old book section. 326 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:17,220 And so I was looking through the old books and I found a copy of Herodotus, his second Persian war from like 1907. 327 00:35:17,220 --> 00:35:19,880 And I was like, oh, I need that. 328 00:35:20,100 --> 00:35:22,920 Now the reality is I absolutely do not need that. 329 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:28,720 I have this like digitally, I have like an actual copy, this one's in Greek, I actually 330 00:35:28,720 --> 00:35:32,120 have one in English, right, so I can, a little easier to read and decipher. 331 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:37,920 There is no world in which I really need this other than like I wanted it, right? 332 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:43,380 And what happens is we tend to confuse our needs and our wants. 333 00:35:43,380 --> 00:35:48,480 We'll see something and say, you know what, I need that, and what we really mean is that 334 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:51,520 I just desire to have it, right? 335 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:57,880 We do this in all areas of our life, not just impulse buying a book from 1907, but we do 336 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:01,660 it when it comes to food, when it comes to decisions in life. 337 00:36:01,660 --> 00:36:06,400 Oftentimes, we seek what we want other than what we need. 338 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:12,140 Now, one of the things that I think is so important for us to understand about God is 339 00:36:12,140 --> 00:36:15,200 that when he blesses us, he blesses us according to our needs. 340 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:17,440 He always gives us what we need. 341 00:36:18,020 --> 00:36:20,580 He doesn't always give us what we want. 342 00:36:20,580 --> 00:36:24,140 You can see this in Scripture in several places. 343 00:36:24,140 --> 00:36:26,900 One is there's a lady who comes to a well, 344 00:36:26,900 --> 00:36:29,480 and she's looking for water, 345 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:31,780 and she starts having a discussion with Jesus, 346 00:36:31,780 --> 00:36:36,580 but he sees through the water and gets to the need of her broken heart. 347 00:36:36,580 --> 00:36:41,200 Or the guy, if you remember, they pull the roof off to lower him down to Jesus 348 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:42,540 because it's too crowded, 349 00:36:42,540 --> 00:36:46,320 and he's there to get his legs fixed because he can't walk. 350 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:47,780 And what's the first thing? 351 00:36:47,860 --> 00:36:53,860 Jesus says to him, your sins are forgiven, right? He doesn't heal him immediately. The healing comes 352 00:36:53,860 --> 00:36:58,920 as a result of the disbelief of the religious leaders. And so he says, just so you know that 353 00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:04,680 I have the power to forgive sins, rise up and walk. And so this guy shows up with Jesus wanting 354 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:11,500 to be healed physically. God heals him spiritually, but also physically. And so when we come to the 355 00:37:11,500 --> 00:37:18,440 Bible, so many times what we are looking for, I think, is we want something that satisfies our 356 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:25,580 wants rather than satisfies our needs. And one of the things we're going to see in the book of Joshua 357 00:37:25,580 --> 00:37:34,400 is that God is a faithful God for the needs of his people, right? And in a wonderful and an amazing 358 00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:40,140 way. And most of us, I think, are probably familiar a little bit with Joshua, maybe familiar with a 359 00:37:40,140 --> 00:37:48,160 little bit of his story. And surprisingly, you may even know a couple of verses from the book of 360 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:53,940 Joshua. And so we're going to dive into this. And one of the ways in which we've served our wants 361 00:37:53,940 --> 00:37:59,800 rather than our needs when it comes to the book of Joshua is that oftentimes we've missed the focus 362 00:37:59,800 --> 00:38:06,780 of this book. And so when we come to Joshua, oftentimes what we try to do is put the focus 363 00:38:06,780 --> 00:38:14,600 on us and you heard brent read um four times in chapter one be strong and courageous and so we'll 364 00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:21,280 come to Joshua and say well the message for me is that i am to be strong and courageous and we turn 365 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:27,060 the focus from where it should be and we'll see that where that is in a minute and it might surprise 366 00:38:27,060 --> 00:38:35,920 you that ultimately it's not on Joshua but we turn that focus to ourselves and then oftentimes 367 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:39,900 And we'll go very deep into what the Word of God has to say. 368 00:38:39,900 --> 00:38:44,580 So there's two passages that you're going to recognize from the book of Joshua, 369 00:38:44,580 --> 00:38:47,620 especially if you've ever shopped at a Hobby Lobby, right? 370 00:38:47,620 --> 00:38:50,060 So one of those is, be strong and courageous. 371 00:38:50,060 --> 00:38:53,160 And you might already know the other one if you're familiar with Joshua. 372 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:58,080 As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, right? 373 00:38:58,080 --> 00:39:01,000 We all know it, right, from the book of Joshua. 374 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:03,340 And so many times, it's not bad. 375 00:39:03,340 --> 00:39:05,120 Those verses are not bad. 376 00:39:05,180 --> 00:39:10,620 put them on your wall, but they don't sum up the total of what Joshua is 377 00:39:10,620 --> 00:39:13,480 and what we see about God from Joshua. 378 00:39:13,480 --> 00:39:16,900 What's interesting about Joshua as a person 379 00:39:16,900 --> 00:39:21,460 is that we don't first find him introduced in Joshua chapter 1. 380 00:39:21,460 --> 00:39:24,820 The first place we find him is in Exodus, the 17th chapter, 381 00:39:24,820 --> 00:39:29,060 and Moses has sent him out into battle against the Amalekites. 382 00:39:29,060 --> 00:39:31,540 He's Moses' assistant. 383 00:39:32,820 --> 00:39:37,720 When Moses goes up to Sinai to meet with God, it is Joshua who accompanies him part way 384 00:39:37,720 --> 00:39:43,120 and evidently camps on the mountain for a period of time waiting for Moses to come back down. 385 00:39:43,120 --> 00:39:48,460 Because when Moses comes down, Joshua is there and they hear the noise of the Israelites with the golden calf. 386 00:39:48,460 --> 00:39:50,760 And Joshua will say, we think it's a battle. 387 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:54,260 And so he's evidently stayed and been unaware of what is happening. 388 00:39:54,260 --> 00:39:59,900 He's one of the 12 spies who goes into Canaan with Moses. 389 00:40:00,060 --> 00:40:05,020 He's been trained and prepared for what happens in Joshua chapter 1. 390 00:40:05,020 --> 00:40:08,080 In fact, in Deuteronomy chapter 3, God will say to Moses, 391 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:12,260 But charge Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, 392 00:40:12,260 --> 00:40:14,640 for he shall go over at the head of his people, 393 00:40:14,640 --> 00:40:19,560 and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see. 394 00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:22,940 And it seems that Joshua needs encouragement, 395 00:40:22,940 --> 00:40:25,740 because as God reveals his plan to Moses, 396 00:40:25,740 --> 00:40:28,060 he says, make sure you encourage Joshua. 397 00:40:28,900 --> 00:40:31,900 You'll hear God saying to Joshua three times, be strong and courageous. 398 00:40:31,900 --> 00:40:35,120 You'll hear the people saying, be strong and courageous to Joshua. 399 00:40:35,120 --> 00:40:37,800 This isn't the first time that Joshua has heard this. 400 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:44,540 Several times in Deuteronomy, God or the people will say to Joshua, be strong and courageous. 401 00:40:44,540 --> 00:40:47,560 This was a message that he needed. 402 00:40:47,560 --> 00:40:52,840 And so as we come to Joshua chapter 1, we find that Moses has died. 403 00:40:52,840 --> 00:40:55,220 Joshua is now leading God's people. 404 00:40:55,760 --> 00:40:59,140 And one of the first things we find in these first five verses 405 00:40:59,140 --> 00:41:03,560 is that God is a God who keeps his promises. 406 00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:06,180 And as we're introduced to Joshua, 407 00:41:06,180 --> 00:41:09,220 we see Joshua sort of as the character, 408 00:41:09,220 --> 00:41:12,320 but what we're really seeing is God's goodness. 409 00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:16,140 So in these first five verses, let me just go ahead and read them. 410 00:41:16,140 --> 00:41:18,560 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, 411 00:41:18,560 --> 00:41:23,280 the Lord said to Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 412 00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:25,100 Moses, my servant, is dead. 413 00:41:25,160 --> 00:41:32,760 Now, therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all the people into the land that I am giving them to all the people of Israel. 414 00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:35,860 Every place that you place the sole of your foot will tread. 415 00:41:35,860 --> 00:41:40,600 I have given you, just as I promised Moses, from the wilderness and this Lebanon, 416 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:45,440 as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the great sea, 417 00:41:45,440 --> 00:41:47,980 toward this going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 418 00:41:47,980 --> 00:41:54,780 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life, just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 419 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:58,420 I will not leave you or forsake you. 420 00:41:58,420 --> 00:42:01,460 And so even though we're hearing words to Joshua, 421 00:42:01,460 --> 00:42:05,000 the focus in the heart of these words is the faithfulness of God, 422 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:08,660 that he's the one who speaks, he's the one who gives. 423 00:42:08,660 --> 00:42:11,320 When he talks about this land, it's God giving the land. 424 00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:14,380 In verse 2, and in verse 3, and in verse 4, 425 00:42:14,380 --> 00:42:17,480 he's the one who makes promises in verse 3. 426 00:42:17,480 --> 00:42:20,720 And in verse 5, he's the one who brings victory, 427 00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:25,660 He brings his presence, and he is the one who is faithful. 428 00:42:25,660 --> 00:42:29,200 And as you see God speaking to Joshua, 429 00:42:29,200 --> 00:42:33,600 you have a promise that goes all the way back to Genesis, the 12th chapter. 430 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:35,600 Now the Lord said to Abraham, 431 00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:40,420 Go from your country and from your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you, 432 00:42:40,420 --> 00:42:44,580 and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great 433 00:42:44,580 --> 00:42:46,800 so that you will be a blessing. 434 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:51,060 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, 435 00:42:51,200 --> 00:42:54,120 and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 436 00:42:54,120 --> 00:42:58,640 We find that Israel is now returning to the land that God had shown to Abraham, 437 00:42:58,640 --> 00:43:00,920 and they are a great nation. 438 00:43:00,920 --> 00:43:05,120 And what you find as Joshua begins, we see this focus, 439 00:43:05,120 --> 00:43:10,160 as we hear these words to Joshua, that God is faithful. 440 00:43:10,160 --> 00:43:12,820 He's the one who gives. He's the one who speaks. 441 00:43:12,820 --> 00:43:17,840 He is the one who is with us, that his presence follows and is with Joshua. 442 00:43:19,260 --> 00:43:34,800 And then we come to what God says to Joshua, which we're probably very familiar with, as he says, not for the first time, and not for the last time, he says these words that are very famous, be strong and courageous. 443 00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:49,120 And I want you to see sort of what goes in and behind these words, because I don't think that as God says to Joshua, be strong and courageous, that he's looking at him and saying, you know what, Joshua, summon up all your gumption. 444 00:43:49,260 --> 00:43:54,560 right? You know, make sure that you have a spine. You need to be really brave. I don't think that 445 00:43:54,560 --> 00:44:00,460 what God is saying to Joshua is, all right, now here's the promise I've made. Now you've got to 446 00:44:00,460 --> 00:44:07,060 go and do this. In fact, he's telling Joshua be strong and courageous as he describes what God 447 00:44:07,060 --> 00:44:14,100 himself is doing for Joshua. Right? The first thing that God says to Joshua when he tells him 448 00:44:14,100 --> 00:44:20,780 strong and courageous is that you are not alone, right? It's always easier to face difficult or 449 00:44:20,780 --> 00:44:26,260 unpleasant circumstances when you're by, when you're not by yourself. And I remember that was 450 00:44:26,260 --> 00:44:31,760 one of the big changes when my family lived in Vermont and Rachel and I first started dating and 451 00:44:31,760 --> 00:44:37,140 then got married was before I had to make that drive all by myself. And I'm one of those people 452 00:44:37,140 --> 00:44:42,400 who will get in the car and after like two hours in the car, I'm just ready to take a nap, whether 453 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:47,440 that's at 70 miles an hour or pulled over in a gas station on the side of the road. And I remember 454 00:44:47,440 --> 00:44:53,060 thinking, and I don't know if I ever told her this, but it was so much better when I was making that 455 00:44:53,060 --> 00:44:59,100 drive not by myself, right? And we've experienced this, right? When we go through a difficult 456 00:44:59,100 --> 00:45:04,380 situation, it's one thing to go through a difficult situation alone. It's another thing to go through 457 00:45:04,380 --> 00:45:11,460 a difficult situation with people who love us surrounding us. And notice that as Joshua takes 458 00:45:11,460 --> 00:45:18,920 monumental task, leading the people of God into a land that is already occupied, that God's first 459 00:45:18,920 --> 00:45:24,700 thing to him is that you are not alone. Listen to what he says, starting in verse 5. No man 460 00:45:24,700 --> 00:45:29,600 shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life, just as I was with Moses, 461 00:45:29,600 --> 00:45:36,880 so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, 462 00:45:37,520 --> 00:45:42,220 For you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 463 00:45:42,220 --> 00:45:44,880 He's not looking at Joshua and saying be strong and courageous 464 00:45:44,880 --> 00:45:47,640 because you've just got to really have a spine. 465 00:45:47,640 --> 00:45:52,440 What he's saying to Joshua is that I will be with you just as I was with Moses. 466 00:45:52,440 --> 00:45:54,260 I will never leave you or forsake you. 467 00:45:54,260 --> 00:45:59,700 So because of that, take courage and take strength 468 00:45:59,700 --> 00:46:04,940 in the fact that I am with you as you lead these people into their land. 469 00:46:04,940 --> 00:46:07,460 And what I love is this is not an empty promise. 470 00:46:07,520 --> 00:46:13,860 when he says no man shall be able to stand before you in Joshua the 12th chapter I'm going to read 471 00:46:13,860 --> 00:46:19,100 sort of the first verse of this section about Joshua that's verse 7 and then the last verse 472 00:46:19,100 --> 00:46:25,660 the end of the last verse in verse 24 and all chapter 12 is in Joshua the list of kings 473 00:46:25,660 --> 00:46:30,680 kings that Moses defeated and then kings that Joshua defeated these are the kings of the land 474 00:46:30,680 --> 00:46:36,280 whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan and then it goes 475 00:46:36,280 --> 00:46:40,600 you know the king of here the king of here one king from here one king from here one king from 476 00:46:40,600 --> 00:46:51,080 here uh for like a whole bunch of verses and then ends like this in all 31 kings right God keeps 477 00:46:51,080 --> 00:46:59,640 his promise the second thing that he says to Joshua is that you are not lost right it's really 478 00:46:59,640 --> 00:47:06,160 easy in the face of new circumstances to feel lost i remember um after my kidney transplant i was 479 00:47:06,160 --> 00:47:10,860 going to, I had a doctor's appointment, was at a building I'd never been to. I got dropped 480 00:47:10,860 --> 00:47:15,060 off at the front door and I walk in and I, you kind of see the map and I say, well, I 481 00:47:15,060 --> 00:47:19,620 got to go to this floor, the third floor. And I walk in and there's elevators, a big 482 00:47:19,620 --> 00:47:23,740 bank of elevators right there. And so I walk into those elevators, wasn't really paying 483 00:47:23,740 --> 00:47:28,360 attention. The door is closed, it starts moving. I look over for the third floor button and 484 00:47:28,360 --> 00:47:31,960 there was no third floor button. In fact, it was just taking me down to the basement 485 00:47:31,960 --> 00:47:36,980 parking garage it didn't go above that lobby so I walk out I said maybe there's some more 486 00:47:36,980 --> 00:47:42,760 elevators over here and so I start walking around and for the life of me I can't find how to get to 487 00:47:42,760 --> 00:47:49,060 the third floor there's no stairs there's no elevators and I'm just saying at this point you 488 00:47:49,060 --> 00:47:54,200 know what do I really even need to go to the doctor right and there's like nobody to ask there's no 489 00:47:54,200 --> 00:47:58,600 desk it's just random people who evidently all know where they're going and finally you know it's 490 00:47:58,600 --> 00:48:02,580 there's kind of this big rotunda, so I go up the second floor, I say, maybe there's a security desk, 491 00:48:02,580 --> 00:48:07,660 I can ask where it is, and guess what, right above those elevators that didn't go above the lobby 492 00:48:07,660 --> 00:48:11,720 was a whole other set of elevators that went to the third floor, it was literally the worst 493 00:48:11,720 --> 00:48:18,700 design, and it's so frustrating when we feel lost, right, we get grumpy, we get anxious, we get, 494 00:48:18,700 --> 00:48:22,240 you know, some cases we'll say, you know what, I just can't find it, I'm just not going to deal 495 00:48:22,240 --> 00:48:28,520 with this anymore, and so here's Joshua, and he has all of the nation of Israel with all of 496 00:48:28,520 --> 00:48:33,660 their problems, all of their struggles, all of their needs, getting ready to bring them into a 497 00:48:33,660 --> 00:48:40,200 new land. And yes, he's been Moses' assistant, but he's always had a safety net before. Now there is 498 00:48:40,200 --> 00:48:48,700 none. And look at what God says to him, right? You are not lost. Only be strong and courageous, 499 00:48:48,700 --> 00:48:54,060 being careful to do all according to the law that Moses, my servant, commanded you. 500 00:48:54,720 --> 00:48:57,380 Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, 501 00:48:57,380 --> 00:48:59,800 that you may have good success wherever you go. 502 00:48:59,800 --> 00:49:02,700 The book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, 503 00:49:02,700 --> 00:49:05,300 that you shall meditate on it day and night, 504 00:49:05,300 --> 00:49:08,260 so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. 505 00:49:08,260 --> 00:49:11,000 For then you will make your way prosperous, 506 00:49:11,000 --> 00:49:13,120 and you will have good success. 507 00:49:13,120 --> 00:49:15,280 As Joshua goes in and he has to say, 508 00:49:15,280 --> 00:49:16,440 where am I supposed to go? 509 00:49:16,440 --> 00:49:17,320 God will direct him. 510 00:49:17,320 --> 00:49:19,820 But he also says, hey, take the word of God. 511 00:49:19,820 --> 00:49:22,220 Don't let it leave your hands. 512 00:49:22,220 --> 00:49:23,240 Don't let it leave your mouth. 513 00:49:23,240 --> 00:49:24,640 Don't let it leave your heart. 514 00:49:24,720 --> 00:49:31,600 meditate on it day and night it will show you how to live and where to go and what's interesting is 515 00:49:31,600 --> 00:49:38,620 one of Joshua's failures in the book of Joshua is where he stops consulting God just for a minute 516 00:49:38,620 --> 00:49:47,360 where he stops trusting God and makes the decision on his own and it results in one of Joshua's 517 00:49:47,360 --> 00:49:56,280 failures early on in the book the third thing that God says to Joshua is remember my faithfulness 518 00:49:56,280 --> 00:50:02,420 look at verse one have i not commanded you right remember i've already said this be strong and 519 00:50:02,420 --> 00:50:08,040 courageous do not be frightened do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go 520 00:50:08,040 --> 00:50:14,180 right he's calling Joshua to remember what he's just said in verse six but also to remember what 521 00:50:14,180 --> 00:50:19,380 has happened to Joshua as they have moved through the wilderness. The God who has provided water, 522 00:50:19,380 --> 00:50:25,540 the God who has provided food, the God who Joshua has led God's people into battle and God has given 523 00:50:25,540 --> 00:50:32,920 them the victory. He's calling Joshua to remember. He's calling Joshua, as he says, be strong and 524 00:50:32,920 --> 00:50:39,940 courageous because you're not alone, you're not lost, and God is faithful. The strong and courageous 525 00:50:39,940 --> 00:50:44,740 isn't about Joshua summoning up all his moral fortitude, 526 00:50:44,740 --> 00:50:48,260 but rather looking to God who is with him, 527 00:50:48,260 --> 00:50:49,840 who is directing him, 528 00:50:49,840 --> 00:50:52,680 and who has been faithful to him. 529 00:50:52,680 --> 00:50:55,320 It goes all the way back, 530 00:50:55,320 --> 00:50:58,940 and God says, I am with you. 531 00:50:58,940 --> 00:51:03,860 So as we sort of move to the second half of the book, 532 00:51:03,860 --> 00:51:06,720 the picture shifts from Joshua for a moment. 533 00:51:07,860 --> 00:51:10,780 And what we see is that when we remember God's promises, 534 00:51:10,780 --> 00:51:13,360 when we trust in his faithfulness, 535 00:51:13,360 --> 00:51:17,100 it moves us into action because that's what Joshua does. 536 00:51:17,100 --> 00:51:20,660 And Joshua, upon hearing this, is commanding the people, 537 00:51:20,660 --> 00:51:23,160 pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, 538 00:51:23,160 --> 00:51:27,520 prepare your provisions for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan 539 00:51:27,520 --> 00:51:30,980 and go into the land your Lord God has given you to possess. 540 00:51:30,980 --> 00:51:34,800 So having been encouraged by God's faithfulness, his direction, 541 00:51:34,800 --> 00:51:37,800 this remembrance, the fact that God is with him, 542 00:51:37,860 --> 00:51:45,000 um Joshua goes to work one of the things you and I see when we begin to see God's goodness 543 00:51:45,000 --> 00:51:53,260 and his love in our life it moves us to put that into practice and then comes this beautiful 544 00:51:53,260 --> 00:52:00,680 picture of community in chapter one and in the first sort of section there's this these words 545 00:52:00,680 --> 00:52:06,800 that are recounting this event to two and a half tribes Reuben Gad and half of Manasseh right 546 00:52:06,800 --> 00:52:09,320 They've already got their promised land. 547 00:52:09,320 --> 00:52:11,780 It's east of the Jordan River. 548 00:52:11,780 --> 00:52:13,660 They've already got their spots. 549 00:52:13,660 --> 00:52:17,660 Now the rest of the tribes are needing to go into the land. 550 00:52:17,660 --> 00:52:21,980 And so what Joshua will do is remind them 551 00:52:21,980 --> 00:52:25,000 that community isn't just about getting what's ours 552 00:52:25,000 --> 00:52:27,500 or getting my needs and wants met, 553 00:52:27,500 --> 00:52:29,480 but it's about the whole community. 554 00:52:29,480 --> 00:52:33,420 And he'll have this conversation with these two and a half tribes 555 00:52:33,420 --> 00:52:36,140 and saying, remember, you have gotten your share of land 556 00:52:36,140 --> 00:52:37,960 now it is time to join with your brothers 557 00:52:37,960 --> 00:52:40,100 and secure theirs. 558 00:52:40,100 --> 00:52:41,760 And that's what they do. 559 00:52:41,760 --> 00:52:44,180 But there's one more beautiful picture 560 00:52:44,180 --> 00:52:45,820 of community here that I want you to see. 561 00:52:45,820 --> 00:52:47,500 Listen to how they respond to Joshua. 562 00:52:47,500 --> 00:52:50,040 And they responded to Joshua. 563 00:52:50,040 --> 00:52:52,240 All that you have commanded we will do 564 00:52:52,240 --> 00:52:53,920 wherever you send us we will go 565 00:52:53,920 --> 00:52:55,900 just as we have obeyed Moses 566 00:52:55,900 --> 00:52:57,920 in all things so we will obey you. 567 00:52:57,920 --> 00:52:59,900 Only may the Lord your God 568 00:52:59,900 --> 00:53:01,700 be with you as he was with Moses 569 00:53:01,700 --> 00:53:04,200 who rebels against your commandment 570 00:53:04,200 --> 00:53:05,560 and disobeys your words 571 00:53:05,560 --> 00:53:08,420 Whatever you command of him shall be put to death. 572 00:53:08,420 --> 00:53:10,140 These are the words I want you to see. 573 00:53:10,140 --> 00:53:14,140 Only be strong and courageous. 574 00:53:14,140 --> 00:53:17,220 And so here are the people of God. 575 00:53:17,220 --> 00:53:18,720 And Joshua says, here's the plan. 576 00:53:18,720 --> 00:53:20,820 We're going across the river in three days. 577 00:53:20,820 --> 00:53:22,360 These people whose land has been secured, 578 00:53:22,360 --> 00:53:24,260 they're going to join us in this battle. 579 00:53:24,260 --> 00:53:25,660 And the people say, excellent. 580 00:53:25,660 --> 00:53:28,140 And they end their words to Joshua 581 00:53:28,140 --> 00:53:30,400 with the words that began 582 00:53:30,400 --> 00:53:33,120 when Moses commissions him to service. 583 00:53:33,120 --> 00:53:35,280 as Moses says to him back in Deuteronomy 584 00:53:35,280 --> 00:53:37,100 be strong and courageous 585 00:53:37,100 --> 00:53:38,720 as God says to him 586 00:53:38,720 --> 00:53:40,000 be strong and courageous 587 00:53:40,000 --> 00:53:41,840 the people look at Joshua 588 00:53:41,840 --> 00:53:43,920 and they encourage him with those words 589 00:53:43,920 --> 00:53:46,220 be strong and courageous 590 00:53:46,220 --> 00:53:48,200 and I love this picture 591 00:53:48,200 --> 00:53:50,020 of the faithfulness of God 592 00:53:50,020 --> 00:53:51,640 in his presence 593 00:53:51,640 --> 00:53:53,640 in his direction 594 00:53:53,640 --> 00:53:56,720 in the fact that he'll never leave or forsake 595 00:53:56,720 --> 00:53:58,960 as he calls us to remember his faithfulness 596 00:53:58,960 --> 00:54:00,960 and that moves us to action 597 00:54:00,960 --> 00:54:10,760 But also, as we're surrounded by community, part of the work of community is to remind us of the faithfulness and the goodness of God. 598 00:54:10,760 --> 00:54:17,920 One of the things that we may not realize about Joshua is that he was not always Joshua. 599 00:54:17,920 --> 00:54:24,180 His name was originally Hoshia, and that name means salvation. 600 00:54:24,180 --> 00:54:26,580 It's a cry for salvation. 601 00:54:26,580 --> 00:54:29,720 You can kind of hear it reflected in the word Hosanna, 602 00:54:29,720 --> 00:54:32,480 which means calling out on God to save. 603 00:54:32,480 --> 00:54:35,780 And Joshua, born in Egypt, into captivity, 604 00:54:35,780 --> 00:54:40,120 his parents name him Hosea, which is a cry for salvation. 605 00:54:40,120 --> 00:54:43,840 And what God does is he saves his people out of Egypt, 606 00:54:43,840 --> 00:54:50,200 and then Moses will change the name of Hosea to Joshua. 607 00:54:50,200 --> 00:54:53,300 In Numbers 13 and 16, 608 00:54:53,300 --> 00:54:56,580 These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land. 609 00:54:56,580 --> 00:55:01,800 And Moses called Hosea, the son of Nun, Joshua. 610 00:55:01,800 --> 00:55:07,700 So here's a young man whose name had meant a prayer for salvation, right? 611 00:55:07,700 --> 00:55:08,920 Save us. 612 00:55:08,920 --> 00:55:14,560 And Moses takes this young man and says, God is your salvation. 613 00:55:14,560 --> 00:55:17,460 And changes his name to Joshua. 614 00:55:17,460 --> 00:55:22,020 Reminding him in his name of God's grace, that God is salvation, 615 00:55:22,020 --> 00:55:24,060 and that God has saved. 616 00:55:24,060 --> 00:55:26,440 Now what's remarkable about this 617 00:55:26,440 --> 00:55:29,160 is this is not the only Joshua we see in Scripture. 618 00:55:29,160 --> 00:55:31,740 And some of you may know this. 619 00:55:31,740 --> 00:55:35,940 In Matthew, the first chapter, 620 00:55:35,940 --> 00:55:41,440 we find this as Joseph has a dream 621 00:55:41,440 --> 00:55:42,380 starting in verse 20. 622 00:55:42,380 --> 00:55:45,560 An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, 623 00:55:45,560 --> 00:55:48,980 Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife 624 00:55:48,980 --> 00:55:51,180 for which is conceived in her as from the Holy Spirit. 625 00:55:51,460 --> 00:55:52,980 She will bear a son. 626 00:55:52,980 --> 00:55:54,820 You shall call His name Jesus, 627 00:55:54,820 --> 00:55:58,640 which means God is my salvation or God saves. 628 00:55:58,640 --> 00:56:02,800 He will save His people from their sins. 629 00:56:02,800 --> 00:56:07,120 Jesus, that word comes from the Greek Jesus, 630 00:56:07,120 --> 00:56:11,520 which comes from the Hebrew Yeshua. 631 00:56:11,520 --> 00:56:14,620 Joshua in Hebrew is Yeshua. 632 00:56:14,620 --> 00:56:17,980 That Jesus' name, this comes through an extra language, 633 00:56:17,980 --> 00:56:20,820 that Jesus' name, given to Him, Matthew, 634 00:56:21,460 --> 00:56:23,600 In Hebrew, you'd say Joshua. 635 00:56:23,600 --> 00:56:26,160 There's another Joshua coming. 636 00:56:26,160 --> 00:56:29,280 As this Joshua leads his people 637 00:56:29,280 --> 00:56:31,680 through the land by the faithfulness of God, 638 00:56:31,680 --> 00:56:34,100 through the river and against their enemies, 639 00:56:34,100 --> 00:56:36,460 there is coming another 640 00:56:36,460 --> 00:56:39,780 who will lead in God's law, 641 00:56:39,780 --> 00:56:41,040 who will rescue sinners, 642 00:56:41,040 --> 00:56:42,640 who will defeat their enemies, 643 00:56:42,640 --> 00:56:44,540 and who will share the inheritance 644 00:56:44,540 --> 00:56:45,660 with God's people. 645 00:56:45,660 --> 00:56:49,340 And we see Jesus in the book of Joshua. 646 00:56:49,640 --> 00:56:52,040 One who comes as the Word made flesh, 647 00:56:52,040 --> 00:56:53,560 who rescues sinners, 648 00:56:53,560 --> 00:56:55,600 who defeats their enemies, 649 00:56:55,600 --> 00:56:59,940 who through death and then through His return, 650 00:56:59,940 --> 00:57:02,300 where every knee will bow, 651 00:57:02,300 --> 00:57:05,520 will welcome His people into their inheritance. 652 00:57:05,520 --> 00:57:08,480 At the heart of the book of Joshua 653 00:57:08,480 --> 00:57:11,540 is a testimony of God's faithfulness 654 00:57:11,540 --> 00:57:14,640 and a giant sign that flashes 655 00:57:14,640 --> 00:57:17,240 and points us toward Jesus 656 00:57:17,240 --> 00:57:19,820 who walked before us 657 00:57:19,820 --> 00:57:23,300 so that we would eventually be welcomed 658 00:57:23,300 --> 00:57:25,560 into His inheritance. 659 00:57:25,560 --> 00:57:29,340 And so as we look through this book of Joshua, 660 00:57:29,340 --> 00:57:31,780 I don't just want you to see Joshua, 661 00:57:31,780 --> 00:57:34,960 but I want you to see how this testifies 662 00:57:34,960 --> 00:57:36,660 to our Savior, 663 00:57:36,660 --> 00:57:39,880 the one who went before us. 664 00:57:39,880 --> 00:57:41,160 Let's have a word of prayer. 665 00:57:41,160 --> 00:57:43,480 Father in Heaven, thank You for the Gospel. 666 00:57:43,480 --> 00:57:46,620 We thank You as we look at the deliverance 667 00:57:46,620 --> 00:57:49,020 and the salvation of Your people 668 00:57:49,020 --> 00:57:50,980 as they claim the promises 669 00:57:50,980 --> 00:57:52,920 that You have made to them 670 00:57:52,920 --> 00:57:54,940 through Your power and Your strength 671 00:57:54,940 --> 00:57:57,180 that You would direct us to Your Son 672 00:57:57,180 --> 00:57:58,740 who has saved us, 673 00:57:58,740 --> 00:58:02,000 who has brought us into a new life, 674 00:58:02,000 --> 00:58:05,200 who has defeated our enemies 675 00:58:05,200 --> 00:58:07,060 of death and sin, 676 00:58:07,060 --> 00:58:08,680 who has saved us. 677 00:58:08,680 --> 00:58:10,840 Help us to see Your faithfulness. 678 00:58:10,840 --> 00:58:13,260 Help us as we face the fears 679 00:58:13,260 --> 00:58:14,980 and the struggles and the hurts 680 00:58:14,980 --> 00:58:17,080 of this world, to be strong 681 00:58:17,080 --> 00:58:19,100 and courageous, not because of our 682 00:58:19,100 --> 00:58:20,920 goodness, but because you are 683 00:58:20,920 --> 00:58:23,020 with us and you direct us and you 684 00:58:23,020 --> 00:58:24,680 constantly remind us 685 00:58:24,680 --> 00:58:27,080 of your faithfulness. It's in Jesus' name 686 00:58:27,080 --> 00:58:28,340 we pray. Amen. 687 00:58:28,340 --> 00:58:31,100 We're going to stand 688 00:58:31,100 --> 00:58:33,420 and sing Build My Life. 689 00:58:44,980 --> 00:58:54,860 Worthy of every song we could ever sing 690 00:58:54,860 --> 00:59:01,540 Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring 691 00:59:01,540 --> 00:59:07,860 Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe 692 00:59:07,860 --> 00:59:09,560 We live for you 693 00:59:14,980 --> 00:59:21,380 Jesus, the name above every other name 694 00:59:21,380 --> 00:59:28,060 Jesus, the only one who could ever save 695 00:59:28,060 --> 00:59:34,140 Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe 696 00:59:34,140 --> 00:59:39,760 We live for you, oh we live for you 697 00:59:39,760 --> 00:59:46,480 Holy, there is no one like you 698 00:59:46,480 --> 00:59:49,860 There is none beside you 699 00:59:49,860 --> 00:59:54,500 Open up my eyes in wonder 700 00:59:54,500 --> 00:59:58,140 And show me who you are 701 00:59:58,140 --> 01:00:01,440 And fill me with your heart 702 01:00:01,440 --> 01:00:08,380 And lead me in your love to those around me 703 01:00:08,380 --> 01:00:13,880 Worthy of every song we could ever sing 704 01:00:13,880 --> 01:00:20,440 Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring 705 01:00:20,440 --> 01:00:26,820 Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe 706 01:00:26,820 --> 01:00:28,900 We live for you 707 01:00:28,900 --> 01:00:40,380 Jesus, the name above every other name 708 01:00:40,380 --> 01:00:46,940 Jesus, the only one who could ever save 709 01:00:46,940 --> 01:00:53,080 Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe 710 01:00:53,080 --> 01:00:55,160 We live for you 711 01:00:55,160 --> 01:00:58,260 Oh, we live for you 712 01:00:58,260 --> 01:01:05,460 Holy, there is no one like you 713 01:01:05,460 --> 01:01:08,780 There is none beside you 714 01:01:08,780 --> 01:01:13,360 Open up my eyes in wonder 715 01:01:13,360 --> 01:01:17,000 And show me who you are 716 01:01:17,000 --> 01:01:20,340 And fill me with your heart 717 01:01:20,340 --> 01:01:27,060 And lead me in your love to those around me 718 01:01:27,060 --> 01:01:39,580 I will build my life upon your love. It is a firm foundation. 719 01:01:39,580 --> 01:01:52,840 I will put my trust in you alone, and I will not be shaken. 720 01:01:53,540 --> 01:02:01,340 Holy, there is no one like You, there is none beside You. 721 01:02:01,340 --> 01:02:19,820 Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are and fill me with Your heart and lead me in Your love to those around me. 722 01:02:23,540 --> 01:02:26,920 I want to thank you for joining us this morning. 723 01:02:26,920 --> 01:02:32,700 A few announcements as we get ready to close this morning. 724 01:02:32,700 --> 01:02:36,140 First of all, we'll be here Wednesday night, 7 p.m. 725 01:02:36,140 --> 01:02:40,340 We are moving through a series about how the gospel is above all. 726 01:02:40,340 --> 01:02:44,360 It's a little different from anything we've done, I think, before. 727 01:02:44,360 --> 01:02:50,340 It's essentially an interview through a short video with an interview with different people 728 01:02:50,340 --> 01:02:56,540 We talk about how the gospel changes and transforms our life, and then we spend some time in discussion. 729 01:02:56,540 --> 01:03:04,880 Also, this is the third Thursday, so 1 o'clock for the ladies' class that's here at the church. 730 01:03:04,880 --> 01:03:11,140 Also, do we need, are we looking, recruiting volunteers to lift everything for you guys? 731 01:03:11,140 --> 01:03:16,380 Okay, all right, I was going to volunteer somebody who's not me. 732 01:03:16,380 --> 01:03:18,960 All right. 733 01:03:20,340 --> 01:03:23,700 All right, we're going to go ahead and have a word of prayer. 734 01:03:23,700 --> 01:03:26,780 We'll read a verse together, and then we'll sing the doxology. 735 01:03:26,780 --> 01:03:31,520 Father in heaven, we thank you for your grace and your goodness. 736 01:03:31,520 --> 01:03:33,920 We thank you for our brothers and sisters in Christ. 737 01:03:33,920 --> 01:03:38,280 We thank you for all the ways you have blessed us, and we thank you for your faithfulness to us. 738 01:03:38,280 --> 01:03:40,400 It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 739 01:03:40,400 --> 01:03:46,180 So if you can read this without losing your eyeballs, you're welcome to read with me. 740 01:03:46,180 --> 01:03:50,860 We're going to read from 2 Timothy 1, 7 together. 741 01:03:50,860 --> 01:03:51,340 It says, 742 01:03:51,340 --> 01:03:55,980 For God gave us a spirit not of fear, 743 01:03:55,980 --> 01:04:00,440 but of power and love and self-control. 744 01:04:00,440 --> 01:04:02,160 And we're going to sing the Doctology. 745 01:04:11,160 --> 01:04:32,800 Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 746 01:04:41,160 --> 01:05:11,140 Thank you. 747 01:05:11,160 --> 01:05:41,140 Thank you. 748 01:05:41,160 --> 01:06:11,140 Thank you.