Trusting Like Joshua
Sermon Cross Life – 11/29/2020 – Trusting Like Joshua
Hello Cross Life. “This is the day that the Lord has made, Let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” I have titled the message today: Trusting Like Joshua. Let me begin by saying that faith without trust is not faith. As many of you may be aware, the words faith and trust run parallel with each other. Faith can be defined as the confidence we have in trusting something that we believe to be true. I know…I know…we know this, right? But having faith and trusting the Lord is easier said than done, especially when our faith is shaken. The more our faith is shaken, the least we tend to trust God. We all know that we are living in exceedingly difficult times. But difficult times are not determined by the Coronavirus. There may be may things that look difficult in the life of a human being and Christians are no exception! It is human nature to trust and have confidence on our own wisdom and in our own strengths. We tend to rely on our own human abilities more than we think. But God knows better, and He reminds us to trust His power and promises. In Proverbs 3:5-6 He says: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Are you facing difficult decisions today? Are these difficult decisions bearing on you? You know, wearing you out. Does it seem at times like it will be impossible to overcome our trials? How is our sanctification process developing? In other words, are we surrendering, accepting, and abiding in Christ? The truth is that everyone including Christians can have days in which everything looks and feels hopeless. But what does the Bible have to say about trusting God during difficult times? What example should we follow? The Bible is filled with godly people that trusted the Lord and Joshua is one of them, so lets’ go to the book of:
Joshua 1:5-9 - 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 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; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – After Moses death and under the leadership of Joshua, Israel was able to conquer and possess the promise land. But entering the land of Canaan was a difficult task that could only become reality through the power and promises of God. Difficult tasks in our lives today are no different for those who are believers in Christ. It is paramount that we grasp the belief that God never fails in his promises. The character of an unfailing God points to the hope that we should have in overcoming the most difficult situations. Of course, it is difficult to understand the unfailing character of God unless we are connected to His word.
It is also difficult to conquer if we are weak, therefore; the Lord encourages us to be strong and not so much strong in character, but strong in our actions. Why trust in the Lord? Because in the same way God never let Joshua down, He will not let His Christians children down. At the same time, God calls on us to have courage, but we must remember that to be strong and courageous, we must trust. We all struggle with trust during certain periods of our lives, but it certainly happens when we lean in our own understanding. Now, this calling about being courageous and trusting God is threefold.
1. Like Joshua, God commands His children to be strong and courageous – He promised Joshua and the Israelites their own land. In Joshua’s situation, strength and courage would be required in preparing the military for a strenuous confrontation in which they would enter and successfully conquer the territory of the promise land. But for the military to be courageous and successful, they better trust! What was the reward for them? The inheritance of the land! The land that was promised by an Almighty God. The Israelites military was small, but deadly. Believers today are rewarded (you know blessed) when they obey the Lord, persevere, and do not give up. That is being courageous, that is being trusting. The rewards are a sense of accomplishment in the Lord which bring peace, joy, rest, and love in our hearts. Did Joshua trust the Lord? How about us? Can we trust the Lord the way Joshua did?
2. Like Joshua, God commands His children to be “very courageous.” – in other words, “above courageous.” In Joshua’s time he was to obey the Law of Moses. In our time, the divine word of God. But being “above courageous” means to have greater faith, and greater strength of character which is required if we are to obey God faithfully. This command is based on the authoritative power of the word of our Lord. And The word of God requires that we keep the scriptures from departing from our mouths, that we meditate on it day and night, and that we obey and act on His word. Like Joshua, we are to trust and live our lives according to the teachings of the divine word of God. Living according to God’s word brings victory to our lives. In other words, we are to live in submission to the word of God. Submission like it says in Proverbs 3:5-6. We also see this in Joshua 23:6 says: Be very firm, then, to keep (and to keep you must submit) and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left. Can submit like Joshua did?
3. Like Joshua, God commands His children to live in His presence – What do we have to do to be courageous and trust the Lord with all our heart? Live in His presence! But Like Joshua, living in the presence of the Lord does not minimize difficulties in our lives, but the presence of the Lord does make the difference. Like Joshua, Christians today may face times when they feel weak, ineffective, and anxious. Perhaps they feel like giving up, but God is clear not to be afraid or discouraged. He is with us and His assurances of overcoming and succeeding cannot be taken for granted (which we have the propensity to do). If you are not feeling like you are in the presence of the Lord, begin by praying and then reading scripture. Perhaps you are reading scripture and you still do not feel the presence of the Lord. Well, stop reading and allow Him to speak to you. He will. That’s what Joshua did, he stop to listen in the presence of the Lord, and he trusted the character of an almighty God. You know, perhaps there is a sin in your heart that God is waiting for you to confess.
Conclusion: Let me conclude with some questions. Are there too many things you feel you can’t handle today? How are we doing with trusting God? Do we find God to be trustworthy? We love to hear it, but can we grasp it? Do we trust God because of our emotions or because of your intimate knowledge of Him? Let us look how God encouraged Joshua to fight the fight during the most difficult circumstances and tasks.