THE JOSHUA DISCOURSE

                                                                     JOSHUA
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

OPENING QUESTION: Would you describe yourself as a leader or as a follower? First, go around your table and quickly say which you are…generally speaking a leader or a follower. Then, go around again and each give a specific example of why you would describe yourself as a leader or follower.
THREE PHASES OF JOSHUA’S LIFE:

1. Stepping alongside: God prepares Joshua
Joshua was an obedient warrior. Exodus 17:9-14 (1st Mention of Joshua in Scripture)
Joshua’s name means “the Lord saves”
Joshua was Moses Aide Ex 24;12-18
Joshua walked alongside Moses. Exodus 32:15-17
Joshua wanted to stay close to God’s presence
Exodus 33:1-11 . “his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent”.
Preparation time: Joshua walked with Moses as his aide as Moses walked with God.

Question: Go around your tables and each of you answer one of the following questions…the one that applies most specifically to your life and how God may be preparing you for something more.
 What do you see God doing in your life right now?
 Where is He making you more sensitive to others or to Him?
 How has He gifted you?
 How do you see God preparing YOU?
 Who has been a strong influence or mentor in your life for God?

2. Stepping Up: God calls!! Joshua’s Pivotal Moment
There is a pivotal moment in Israel’s history and it involves our main character, Joshua. Let’s look at it in Numbers 13-14 This takes place as the Israelites are approaching the southern border of Canaan. Moses is sending a group of scouts or spies in to explore Canaan.
Numbers 13:17-27
Moses presumably assumed that the report of the scouts who are credible representatives from the various tribes, will be bringing back glowing reports and will motivate the people to leave the wilderness and enter the promise land.
But what happens instead is the scouts give the impression that the land is impenetrable!!
Joshua spoke out to “Go” when other’s said “No”
At a pivotal time in history Joshua believed God! He put his trust in God not in man.
Question:
 Are you one that easily stands firm and “believes God” or are you one that is inclined to doubt God when life get’s difficult?
 Has there ever been a pivotal time in your life where you learned to trust God?

3. Stepping Out: Joshua led others into the promise land.
In the fullness of time Joshua steps out from the shadow of his mentor, his leader, Moses, and obeys God’s call on his life to lead others into the promise land. Numbers 27:12-23
40 years have passed: Moses who had been such an amazing leader was not allowed to step foot into that land by a holy God. Deut.:34-1-12

Question:
Was there ever a time in your life when you were not allowed to finish or do a job that you felt called to? When someone else got the glory or the privilege of seeing the fruit of all your hard labor?
For years Joshua had faithfully served Moses and God. How well he understood the meaning of his name..”The Lord is salvation”. All of his contemporaries except Caleb… had died in the wilderness because they had not believed God. God had spared Joshua because he had followed him fully. Now Moses was dead and God had appointed Joshua the mantle of leading the children of Israel into the land of promise. God’s words rang in Joshua’s heart. “Be strong and courageous.” The story continues in Joshua 1:1-9
These words ring strong in our ears today. Meditate on this book…then you will be prosperous and successful. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go!!!
2 Promises:
1. Guarantee of success, that no one will be able to stand against.
2. The Lord will be with you.
3 commands:
1. Be strong and couragous
2. Obey unswervingly the law
3. Meditate on the law.
Today we live in a different time and place as our ancient ancestors. We live in a time of grace not the law. But our God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He still wants us to be strong and courageous. He still wants us to obey unswervingly and to know what to obey by studying his word and listening to His voice…His tug on our hearts. For we have the incredible privilege of having The Lord IN us. Then we too will find great success in His eyes.

Entering your promise land. God provides!!!
Questions:
 Is it time for you to step out from the shadow of your mentor or your leaders and step out into your promise land? If so, where might that be? Where do you think God wants to use you more?
 Who are you mentoring or influencing in your life now? Who are you going to pass the torch on to? How can you be even more intentional about that as ‘the day draws near”?
 If God has you right where you think He wants you, share with the table what you are doing. This isn’t gloating or puffing yourself up. This is a time to let those at your table be encouraged by what God is doing in your life and be able to pray for you on a deeper level.
 Maybe you are in a place of pain or struggle or refreshment when all God is saying “come to me all of you who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest for your souls”. You are in a place of waiting and listening to God. Tell about that.
For further study:
 Read book of Joshua and note Joshua’s obedience and God’s faithfulness!
 Continue with your own time line: Mark on it major spiritual experiences in your life – major turning points. Study it closely, pray over it and see how God wants to use you going forward.