LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH
SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014
JOSHUA 1 VERSES 1 - 9
These are words of promise from God to Joshua and they are words to be obeyed by the people of God. They talk about building for a future. Every one of us seeks to build a future for the Lord. It is something we seek to do as a fellowship too. Perhaps it is something that scares and intimidates many of us. We as human beings would like to know what is going to happen, put it into our timelines and that is why we are scared of the future. The children of Israel were about to embark on a new future. Joshua was the man to step up as the new leader - verse 1 "Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister." This opens up a new chapter for the children of Israel. Moses was the leader for many years, now Joshua was the man selected to take over. Deuteronomy 34 verse 9 "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom for Moses had laid his hands upon him; and the children of Israel hearkened unto him and did as the Lord commanded Moses." Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom. This was the man to fill Moses' boots. For 40 years the people had been led by Moses. If ever their future looked daunting it must have been now. They had been through so much. Moses had died, he didn't get to see the great promised land. Surely the men and women must have thought if he couldn't make it what hope is there for us? The Lord was saying "I have a future laid ahead for you." They stood on the edge of the river Jordan, met with a great stumbling block - verse 2 - how to get over this Jordan. If we are to build for the future we need to trust in God. The promise was in front of them. Apprehension and fear was all around them. Moses was dead. They were afraid because of what lay in front of them. River Jordan had burst its banks and it was miles wide yet God is telling them to go over the Jordan. This is where the future with God is that we must trust in God again in order to see that future God provides for us. We need to trust in God. For many of us today we have our own problems, stumbling blocks set in front of us. We have our own Jordan river standing in the way. What God has set before us may be our Jordan river and it may still be overflowing. God wants every one of us to get into that relationship with God and strive forward in that relationship. It starts when we learn to fully trust on God. There was a time when this work had to start. God has been with this church since the beginning until now. He has been the centre of this congregation - why - because they have learned to trust in God. When on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down it must have been daunting when they heard they had to go into the whole world to preach the gospel. Did God let that church down? "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." This church was added to daily, monthly, yearly such as should be saved. God has seen this church grow from small beginnings. It started with God in the midst just as it did with the first church. We have looked at how we build a future and how we go about building after that. Ask yourself the question - what type of future am I building." An important question to consider this morning.
The duty in building for the future - "thou shalt meditate therein day and night." God is saying to Joshua keep the book of the law even in thy mouth. This will make us grow. The words of God are sadly forgotten about and scorned. The scriptures are not something to be picked up on a Sunday morning or Sunday evening, go to church with it that day but left back until the following week. He is giving us living words from the risen exalted Saviour. The word "meditate" means to study or give much thought over. Think of your own quiet time today. The last time you read your Bible - do you think about it, give much intelligent thought to it? Do we ask ourselves what is God saying to me, to us as a church fellowship? When God makes that road into our quiet times he will begin to move. There is a promise in this verse - if you make my word precious then you will have good success.
The diligence in building for a future - "that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written." We have a duty to do something but not necessarily do it with intelligence. The word "observe" comes from the Hebrew word meaning to watch. It goes deeper than that. To guard or protect it. It is broken down into 2 areas - personal and public protection of the word. Personal involves our quiet times when one on one we meet with the Lord. It speaks about our duty in our quiet times. Not one of us will neglect our physical bodies for days at a time with food yet sad to say the spiritual body can be neglected for days on end. There is the diligent public protection. How do you get a building to fall? Attack the foundations. "If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11 verse 3) There is an attack on the church of God. How easily and glibly God's words are thrown to one side as not relevant for today. We as Christians must stand to protect the word of God. This world would love to see the word of God destroyed, would love to see the church closing their doors, going to the wall. When we are diligent God is diligent to us.
The dangers in building for a future. Look at verse 7 "turn not from it to the right hand or to the left." That is the warning we have today. God's words are the most important words to follow. They tell us how to leave a life of sin and be assured of heaven and home. That is why we should be spending time in God's word. Everyone is building for a future, building that relationship with God. Many have already turned from it. God's word says repent. We must come to Calvary. Many people today turn from it, turn from the right and turn from the left. Many know the words of salvation, know and understand that Christ has died for them and that one day Christ will return but many turn from the right and from the left. They come so close. It means turning away from God's will, and it sets you on a different path. Prosper comes down to one word - Psalm 1 verses 3 and 4 "and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away." A life lived with God shall prosper. The spiritual life lived without God shall not prosper. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. It takes those who build and who prepare for the future. Many have already turned from the right and the left. This church should be able to stand on verse 8. God has made us prosperous, given us success, given us a future. How do we as individuals build that future with God? Through our duty in our personal quiet time. Keeping daily diligence. To be in that place of quiet time not just for the sake of reading but because of a desire to be reading it. We should be striving to help men and women to avoid the danger in front of others. God can see our every move. He doesn't look on the outward appearance but looks on the heart. He sees your heart today. What type of future are you building this morning? Building on the diligent duty of God or deviating from the path God has required for your life? Have you turned from the right hand or to the left and are not following him in your life? He still intercedes on that life of yours. Today could be the day when you put the first block down to live for God. It starts with forgiveness of sins. The blood of Christ still atones today.
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