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Elder Charge to Dave Kramer
Joshua 1:5-9
I. Introduction
A. What I am going to do is give Dave is a “CHARGE” – a
“send you out talk”
1. A Charge that was given to a man of God over 3000
years ago that applies to us today!
2. Today – study God’s Charge to Joshua that applies to
you so that you can have success and prosperity in
your Christian walk / ministry
a. You MUST
(1) COUNT on God’s Presence
(2) PURSUE God’s Cause
(3) KNOW & OBEY God’s Word
(4) FOCUS on God’s Success and Prosperity
(5) LIVE OUT God’s command “Be Strong and Courageous”
B. Background
1. Open Bibles to Joshua 1 and I’ll go through the
background necessary to get us to this point in history.
2. Turn clock back to Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenant
a. God promised Abraham “To your descendents I will
give this land” (Gen 12:7).
3. At the time the Book of Joshua begins
a. 400+ years of slavery + 40 years in the desert wandering
b. Moses has led the Israelites out of the desert into the
Trans-Jordan area conquering that land (Numbers 23).
c. Moses has just died
d. God’s people stand at the threshold of the land they will
conquer in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant.
4. PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF JOSHUA.
a. Born in Egypt before the Great Exodus.
b. First seen in Exodus 17:9 when he led the Israelite
army against Amalek.
(1) Battle where as long as Moses held his hand up
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c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
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Joshua won
Second, seen in Exodus 24:13 when as Moses’
Ministerial Assistant, he went up on Mount Sinai with
Moses. He stayed down below somewhere for 40 days
while Moses was on top with God.
Third, in Numbers 13, he was one of the 12 spies who
scouted-out the land of Canaan.
(1) Caleb and he were the only ones willing to trust
God and go into the land
(2) Of course we know, the other 10 prevailed and
God judged Israel – making them spend 40 years
wandering the desert so that the entire rebellious
generation of adults would die.
(3) Hence, Joshua and Caleb were the only 2 adult
Israelites in the great Exodus to enter the Promised
Land.
Finally, in Numbers 27, Joshua is ordained to be the
future leader of the Israelites
(1) After Moses sinned by striking rock twice for
water
(2) Forfeited his chance to enter Canaan.
SO, as Book of Joshua opens…
If you were Joshua, -- 90yrs old! . 41 of ministry
under Moses as…
(1) Military Leader
(2) Ministerial Assistant
(3) One of 12 spies sent to Canaan (1 of 2 trusting)
(4) Ordained to replace Moses
V.1-4 God has just told your ITS TIME TO GIVE
THE LAND OF CANAAN TO THE SONS OF
ISRAEL - Land of Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:7).
THEN V.5 God turns the discussion directly to you,
Joshua AND SAYS-
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5. Joshua 1:5-9:
“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. Be strong and
courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the
land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 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. 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. 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.”
C. FIVE aspects of God’s charge to Joshua that you can apply so
that you can achieve success in your Christian walk and
your ministries.
II. (1) You must COUNT on God’s Presence (v.5)
“No man will be able to resist 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.”
A. You Can COUNT ON GOD’S PRESENCE accompanying,
leading, protecting, fighting with you men that he has
chosen for His work – ensuring your success.
B. God PROMISES Joshua: “No man will be able to resist you
all the days of your life.”
1. HOW does God FULFILL this promise?
2. “Just as I have been with Moses…”
a. ALREADY DEMONSTRATED fulfillment of this
promise with Moses,
b. For 90 years, including 41 of ministry, Joshua saw
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how God had been with Moses!
3. V.5 …“I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake
you.”
a. positive / negative terms, be with you / not fail you
b. literal rendering: “I will not drop you or abandon you.”
 implication is that God is carrying Joshua!
c. IN FACT, GOD BRACKETS THIS CHARGE WITH
THIS PROMISE BY REPEATING IT IN V.9 “…the Lord your God is with you wherever you
go.” (passage full of repetition)
4. So, if you were Joshua, this promise of God’s presence
would be very real to you.
C. Does this promise apply to us?
1. When Jesus gave the Great Commission to His
disciples, how did He conclude it? Matthew 28:20 says,
“…teaching them to observe all that I commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.”
TURN TO Hebrew 13:5
2. Hebrews DIRECTLY QUOTES GOD FROM THE
BOOK OF JOSHUA – GIVES THE APPROPRIATE
ATTITUDE AND ACTION THE PROMISE OF
PRESENCE SHOULD CAUSE:
(Heb. 13:5-7) “…for He [God] Himself has said, ‘I will
never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ (6)
so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper,
I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?’ (7)
Remember those who led you, who spoke the
word of God to you; and considering the result of
their conduct, imitate their faith. (think, think, do)
a. ATTITUDE: I WILL NOT BE AFRAID - “What will
man do to me?”
(1) Notice the progression: The Lord is my helper
[THEREFORE] I will not be afraid
(2) Counting on the presence of God – truly believing
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it leads to no fear of man.
b. ACTION: “…imitate their faith” – WE HAVE A
BIBLE FULL OF EXAMPLES OF FAITH
3. Or how about the promises of Romans 8? (LISTEN)
Romans 8:31-39 31 What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare
His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will
He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will
bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who
justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is
He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right
hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will
separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? 36 Just as it is written,“For Your sake we are being
put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to
be slaughtered.” 37 But in all these things we
overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created
thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
D. So, you can COUNT ON GOD’s PRESENCE!
E. WHEN can you count on God’s Presence? WHEN you
are…PURSUING God’s CAUSE
III. (2)You MUST PURSUE God’s Cause (v.6)
v.6 “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give as an inheritance to
this people the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”
A. “Be strong and courageous.” = well-known OT command,
1. 3X in passage - 1X later Chapter 1 - Come back later
2. Here it has a physical meaning: Joshua’s strength and
courage to physically conquer the land was to be
derived from God’s promised presence in v.5.
B. MAIN THRUST of the verse in the NEXT PHRASE - “FOR
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you shall give as an inheritance to this people the land
which I swore to their fathers to give them.”
1. God’s presence and Joshua’s strength and courage
were needed TO CARRY OUT GOD’S CAUSE – the
deliverance of the land
2. Land – major theme of v.1-6 of Joshua 1. – 4X with a
full description in v.4
C. FOR US Pursuing God’s Cause is the ONLY cause too – THE
GOOD NEWS IS1. Don’t need to spend time proving to you that walking
in obedience to Jesus Christ is a God-ordained cause.
a. Many, many places the Bible calls you walk in a
manner worthy of God
b. A walk of obedience to God’s word!
c. SAME AS – being in the CENTER OF GOD’S WILL
(1) John’s Book: “Found: God’s Will”
(2) Saved /Spirit-filled /Sanctified / Submitting /
Suffering
(3) After that – DO WHAT YOU WANT!
(4) What you will want will be what God wants.
2. Using Spiritual Gifts IS a God-ordained cause
a. It is a God-given / driven cause.
1 Cor 12:4-11 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the
same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the
same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same
God who works all things in all persons. But to each one
is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common
good…(11) But one and the same Spirit works all these
things, distributing to each one individually just as He
wills.
D. Sooooo, to have Success in your Christian walk you MUST
1. COUNT on God’s Presence
2. PURSUE God’s Cause -AND YOU MUST …
IV. (3) YOU MUST KNOW and OBEY God’s Word (v.7-8)
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Joshua 1:7-8 “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.
A. (v.7) 2nd TIME see “be strong and courageous” with VERY
added. – (it doesn’t change the meaning)
1. Joshua’s PERSONAL STRENGTH and MORAL
COURAGE are needed to live a life totally based on
God’s word.
B. Then 2X Joshua told KNOW/OBEY the Law.
1. V.7 “Be careful to do according to all the law (literally,
“keep ALL the law”) which Moses My servant
commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to
the left…”
2. V.8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your
mouth, but you shall meditate (literally: “recite it
quietly”) on it day and night, so that you may be
careful to do according to all that is written in it;
3. First Notice – Joshua is being commanded to keep the
Law of Moses AS FOUND IN A BOOK.
a. Moses had completed the Pentateuch and especially
the Book of Deuteronomy
b. As He was transitioning out of his role, the people of
God were – FOR THE FIRST TIME – being told to
live according to a “book.”
TURN TO DEUT 30:9
c. Deut 30:9-10 Moses says
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10 if you obey the LORD your God to keep His
commandments and His statutes which are written in
this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your
God with all your heart and soul. 11 “For this
commandment which I command you today is not
too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. 12 “It is
not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to
heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that
we may observe it?’ 13 “Nor is it beyond the sea, that
you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it
for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ 14
“But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in
your heart, that you may observe it.
(1) v.10: Live in obedience to His Word – IN A
BOOK
(2) Not too difficult nor out of reach – You can
UNDERSTAND THIS and DO this! (So much for
Let Go and let God!)
(3) v.12: Although God had spoken from heaven, He
had spoken through Moses in words every person
could understand
(4) v.13: They did not have to search at some point
beyond the sea to understand what God expected!
(5) V.14–word of God was taught thru Moses and is
now ingrained in your heart and mind
(6) (v.14)You HAVE all you need to know to love
and obey God!
d. Back to Joshua 1:7-8 – What is this “book”?
(1) Either Pentateuch (1st 5 books ) or JUST Deut
(2) Most likely Deuteronomy with all of the parallels
this passage has to Deuteronomy 31
(3) Either way the Law is presented in both choices!
4. Secondly, v.8 says “This book of the law shall not
depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it
day and night,”
a. Literally, “this book of the law shall not depart from
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your mouth, but you shall RECITE IT QUIETLY TO
YOURSELF day and night.
(1) ancient custom was to read out loud to learn to
learn something.
(a) When Phillip encountered the Ethiopian eunuch
(Acts 8) – what was the eunuch doing? –
(b) Reading the prophet Isaiah OUT LOUD.
5. Third thing to see - Positive / negative AGAIN–keep/do
not turn+ v.8 not depart/meditate=CONTRASTS EMPHASIS
C. NEXT - PHRASES absolutely critical to understanding
God’s full intention of knowing / meditating on this book
of the law.
v.7 Be careful to do according to all the law
v.8….so that you may be careful to do according to all
that is written in it…”
1. V.8 “so that” = the purpose of meditation.
a. Meditation is to be done for the sole purpose of
DOING what is in the book of the law.
b. WHEN WERE FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTION
BOOK to put something together– you’ll understand
what God is talking about here – Learning for doing is
a lot more than just learning!
2. Many people the Christian life hits a wall with “head
knowledge” –
a. Acquire great knowledge and think themselves “a-head” of
everyone else spiritually because of this knowledge.
b. HOWEVER, God is saying – YOU HAVE ONLY
ONE PURPOSE IN KNOWING THE WORD OF
GOD – FOR DOING IT!
D. FOR US –God’s word is supreme in our lives, our ministries,
our everything!
1. We are all familiar with 2 Tim. 3:16-17: All Scripture
is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so
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that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every
good work. -Even here Paul makes the tie between the
word and work!
2. And Jesus Christ, Himself – John 14/15 – at least 5X
He ties Love and Obedience – You show your love for
God by obeying Him!
3. And don’t forget James! Listen to Jas. 1:22-25:
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely
hearers… but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed
in what he does.
a. James ties hearing to doing
b. Then leads us into our next point by telling us the doer
“will be blessed in what he does.”
E. What else must you do to have success and prosperity in your
Christian walk and ministry?
1. First, you must COUNT on God’s PRESENCE
2. Second, you must PURSUE God’s CAUSE
3. Third, you must KNOW and OBEY God’s word
4. Now, FOURTH,
V. (4) YOU MUST FOCUS on God’s SUCCESS and
PROSPERITY (v.7-8)
A. God says the same thing to Joshua as James says!- a doer will
be blessed in what he does!
B. conclusions to v.7 / v.8. After each command concerning the
Law,– a result clause.
1. In v.7, Joshua is to be careful to obey the law “so that
you may have success wherever you go.”
2. In v.8, Joshua is to be careful to obey the law “for then
you will make your way prosperous, and then you will
have success.
C. Point: God gives success/ prosperity to those who obey Him.
1. Knowing and obeying the law WILL RESULT in
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success and prosperity.
2. God’s Providential success. God provides the success.
D. So, what does it mean to be prosperous and have success?
1. God’s Success – Successful completion of His Ministry
of giving the Land to Israel – Having a part in that.
2. Joshua’s Spiritual Prosperity/Success.
a. Psalm 1:1-3 How blessed is the man …his delight is
in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates
day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by
streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does,
he prospers.
(1) Picture of a carefully, firmly planted and cultivated
tree.
(2) Produces fruit
(3) Does not wither–unaffected by wind / drought.
(4) I.e. picture of a man who weathers life’s storms
and trials spiritually.
3. Great degree of material prosperity for Joshua and the
people.
a. Only thing promised in this passage is the land itself.
– a beautiful and bountiful land with everything lost by
the inhabitants.
b. And, listen to Deut 30:8-9
“And you shall again obey the LORD, and
observe all His commandments which I
command you today. “Then the LORD your
God will prosper you abundantly in all the
work of your hand, in the offspring of your
body and in the offspring of your cattle and
in the produce of your ground, for the LORD
will again rejoice over you for good, just as
He rejoiced over your fathers;
c. For Israelite-REAL material blessings for obedience.
d. There were also REAL material curses for
Disobedience – which is what they got!
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e. we CANNOT pull this into our context and say we are
guaranteed worldly prosperity.
(1) God has not promised that for this age– church age
(2) However, can be true/ does occur at times. We
have “generalisms” of Proverbs most often apply.
E. Therefore - You need to KNOW and OBEY God’s word
FOCUSED on HIS SUCCESS and PROSPERITY –
1. To achieve His cause
2. To receive His Spiritual and Material blessings.
F. AS MOVED THROUGH THIS PASSAGE, GOD HAS
WOVEN A VERY STRONG THREAD THROUGHOUT
THAT TIES IT TOGETHER – LOOK AT V.9…
VI. (5) FIFTH, YOU MUST Live God’s Command “BE
STRONG AND COURAGEOUS” (v.9)
Joshua 1:9 “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.”
A. 3X times in 5 verses! BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS emphasized with “Have I not commanded you?”
B. WILL YOU – THROUGH STRENGTH AND COURAGE
STEP OUT IN FAITH
1. COUNT ON GOD’s PRESENCE
2. PURSUE GOD’S CAUSE
a. As Joshua did with PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND
COURAGE to CONQUER THE LAND (v.6)
3. KNOW AND OBEY GOD’S WORD?
4. FOCUS ON GOD’S SUCCESS and PROSPERITY?
a. As Joshua did with HIS PERSONAL STRENGTH
AND MORAL COURAGE as he is commanded to
solely live according to the book of the law in
everything that he did.
5. WILL YOU – THROUGH STENGTH AND
COURAGE STEP OUT IN FAITH AND LIVE OUT
THIS COMMAND OF GOD BECAUSE THE LORD
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YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO?as Joshua did? (v.9)
a. As Joshua did with HIS SPIRITUAL STRENGTH
AND COURAGE – HIS FAITH and TRUST in God
LIVED OUT.
C. THEN the negation – Do not tremble or be dismayed –
1. the “not” here is a temporary negation
2. as before it means “don’t even temporarily tremble or
be dismayed!”
D. We believe and follow God’s commands and promises based
on faith.
E. In faith, we submit to His authority.
F. Again, a positive and a negative
1. positive, “be strong and courageous,”
2. negative, “do not tremble or be dismayed”
3. FAITH IS APPLIED THROUGH STRENGTH AND
COURAGE.
4. A lack of faith results in trembling and dismay.
5. Think about Hebrews 11 – the heroes of the faith…
a. “by faith Abel …offered”
b. “by faith Abraham …going out…”
c. “by faith Sarah…received…”
d. “by faith Noah…prepared”
e. “by faith Rahab…welcomed”
f. Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they
had been encircled for seven days– Joshua won by faith
g. Will we look back on your ministry / Your walk with
through Life and say your were A MAN OF
STRENGTH AND COURAGE WHO BY FAITH
PURSUED GOD’S CAUSE…?
G. V.9 “the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
1. 2nd time & Brackets Section
2. we too have this same promise of God’s presence when
we pursue God’s cause while obeying God’s word!
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VII. Conclusion
A. Joshua went out from that day and was successful and
prosperous – Delivered on one of God’s greatest promises
B. Are you willing to go out from this day-into the rest of your
life, and be faithful to God’s charge to you?
C. God didn’t tell Joshua “I have given you all the experience
and capabilities necessary to do this so GO!”
1. BUT when it is God’s Cause You are Pursuing AND you
a. Count on God’s Presence
b. Know and Obey God’s Word (@90 – do it!)
c. Focus on God’s Success and Prosperity (Providence)
d. Live out God’s Command “Be strong and
Courageous” – WILLING TO STEP IN FAITH
2. HE DOES BLESS YOU WITH HIS SUCCESS AND
PROSPERITY JUST LIKE HE DID JOSHUA.
D. SO, Dave – I trust you TOO will heed GOD’S WORD as
JOSHUA DID and we will all look forward to you being
greatly rewarded by Christ, Himself, for the work you do
for His kingdom!
E. Remember what Paul wrote:

Col 3:23-24 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as
for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from
the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
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