Remember now, God is instructing Joshua as to what his great work of leadership entails, and as he does I wonder is Joshua having some misgivings.

Because immediately after God instructs him to take the people into the land that they might possess it and gives him a double barrelled promise to hold on to as he goes, on the back of all of that he says, v 6-9.

"Be strong" indicates he felt a weakness, "Be of good courage" indicates he was fearful. "Be not thou dismayed" indicates that he is seriously considering whether he should now take on the task.

He was a worm and no man, how on earth could he take on such a mammoth task and be the one chosen to deliver Israel?

Ah! But that’s just it. You see it’s when men and women are in this very condition of humility and submission that God approaches them with the summons to undertake vast and overwhelming responsibilities.

Why? Most of us are too strong for God to use, we are too full of our own schemes and plans and ways of doing things.

And of a truth dear folks, before we can ever be used of God in a new and powerful way we will need to humble ourselves and empty us of self, and remove from us that perpendicular pronoun I’I'tus that stands so proud and tall in our own thinking.

It may seem a strange paradox, but what our God must do with us is to empty us, and humble us, and bring us down to the very dust of death. So low that we need every straw of encouragement, every leaf of help, and then he will raise us up, and make us as the rod of His strength.

Oh I know it’s not the way of the world’s thinking. The world talks of the survival of the fittest, but God gives power to the faint, and increases might to them that have no strength, He perfects His strength in our weakness, and uses things that are not, to bring to naught things that are.

Dear brothers and sisters, it has always been the rule with God, faithfulness in a few things is the condition of rule over many things, and that the loyalty of a servant is the stepping-stone to the royalty of the throne.

It was said of our dear Saviour that he was obedient to death, even the death of the cross; and that, therefore, God highly exalted him, and gave him a name above every name.

We can only learn obedience by the things that we suffer before we can be lifted from the dunghill to sit with princes!

Now I concluded last time by saying that God has already given the victory and we are to live in the power of that victory.

Well, that’s true! Well then, why is God saying to Joshua here in verse 6-7 to be strong, to be courageous, to be obedient?

And in so doing he is saying also to me to be strong, courageous and obedient.

Because you see pastor, those are three areas I am having my severest struggle with.

Well, Joshua was flesh and blood like you and me!

But here I believe is the key! Everything God asks or commands us to do, He supplies power with which to do it.

What I am saying beloved is, behind every command of God is the Omnipotent power of God to carry out that command given!

You see we need to understand v 6-7 in the light of v 5!

"I will be with you" "I will strengthen you" "I will not leave you"

Paul put it like this,

Do you know dear brothers and sisters, this means weak people can choose to be strong, cowardly people can choose to be bold, and disobedient people can choose to be obedient!

It’s not that you just sit back and fold your arms and do nothing and hope and pray God will do it all through me. No! No! No!

Yes! God has given the victory, and through him I can become strong, bold, and obedient.

But if that is to be so then our God has laid down a plan for us to follow, and by following that blue print we, in Him, become strong, bold, and obedient!

You see that is exactly what is happening here with Joshua!

Joshua feels his weakness and frailty and wonders how on earth he will ever get this stubborn and stiff-necked people to the land of promise.

So here’s the master plan Joshua for your journey! As you journey to the land of blessing here’s a plan for you to follow and if you do that, the blessing will flow and follow you all the days of your life.

Now folks, as we live and endeavour to enjoy this life of blessing God has given a blue print, a plan to follow and if we do we will know that blessing of God that makes rich and will not allow sorrow to linger!

It’s the same plan for Joshua and his people as it is for my people and me!

Is that not amazing? This has always been God’s plan!

1. The Proclamation of the Word! v 8a.

First in order of priorities for the leading of God’s dear people into a life of blessing is the Word of God!

Now friends, do we grasp that? It’s not making out church programs, its not organising the events of the church, it’s not your personal wishes, nor mine for that matter, it’s not a program of visitation, it’s not sitting with you dear folks and helping you with your problems however important that is, it’s not sitting and enjoying an hour of fellowship with you in your own home, however delightful that would be.

The first order of priorities for a life of blessing is to learn the word of God in the God appointed way!

Now the first step to enjoying the very best God has for us is to learn the Word of God so that it shall never depart out of our mouths.

Well, if it does not depart out of our mouths, where does it need to be?

In our hearts of course! Col. 3 v 16.

If the Word of God is to come out of us it must be in us!

You see the word of God is our power of attorney in this life for God, the reason? There is power in the Living Word of God!

Do you know you can use the word of God like a sword? Of course you do! But here's the point, do you? Do you? Do you?

The Word of God is to be your arbiter! In every decision of life do you look to the Word of God? Do you weigh every thing you do against the power of God’s Wonderful Word?

Is that Word, really a lamp and a light to your pathway, guiding you in every little step you take. You say, well that’s a tall order Pastor! Yes it is! Yes it is! But that is God’s order! Beloved, walking with God is a serious business.

Listen to Paul in Eph. 4 v 29.

Are the words of my mouth edifying? Well are they? Are they?

Or do I constantly just run off at the mouth and never take a care about what I am saying. Are you one of those who believe in saying what you think no matter who it hurts or upsets?

Well then, I counsel you today; you are not following the master's plan for your life. Your words are always to be words that edify others.

John Bunyan, one of the greatest Christians that ever lived and penned Pilgrims Progress and other great works, was converted by listening to the conversation of some ladies after they came out of a service in their church. As he listened to them talk he was convicted by their holy conversation. Oh! What a star to have in your crown!

If someone was listing to your conversation after this meeting in either the public arena or in the privacy of your own home with your own loved ones, would it lead them to Christ and godliness, or to bitterness and hardness?

Listen, Listen, we defeat ourselves so often just here, why? Because our conversation stinks!

My dear people, I have spoken with more families than I can name or recall and their story is always the same. Because of their parent’s conversation around the meal table they came to a point where they drew the conclusion that either Christianity was a farce (empty show) or that the Christians they knew were totally false!

And where has that left them today, living a life of total unbelief!

Listen beloved, when we speak, even on what we call the ordinary level, or the personal level, the Word of God is to be our guide, our light, our power of attorney, our arbiter.

Listen to the words of Matthew Ch. 12 v 37.

Because men’s words are an accurate gauge of their hearts, they shall render account for their words in the day of judgement.

It is by his or her words that a person is justified or judged.

Salvation and condemnation are not produced by words or deeds, but they are a manifestation of real belief by every individual.

The consistent teaching of both the Old and New Testaments is that the only way of salvation is by God’s grace working through man’s faith.

The speech of a redeemed person will be different, why? Because it comes from a heart renewed. Pure, wholesome, praising speech shows a new heart!

We are not saved by good works we are saved for "good works"

Eph. 2 v 10. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them"

Salvation will produce good works, and it is for that reason and in that sense that words bring justification or condemnation. End quote!

The Christian’s speech will reflect God’s transforming work in the heart, but because of our unredeemed humanness, it still needs constant care if it is to be increasingly spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, loving, purposeful, edifying and truthful.

Actually, David prays for three down-to-earth things at this time of perilous circumstances in his life.

David was a spiritual man, but he was still human. Natural feeling of resentment against Saul's treatment of him could easily have surfaced and spilled out of his mouth.

So he asks God to put a guard about his mouth. He knew he could not control his tongue. Who can? James reminds us that the person who can do that is perfect!

Graham Scroggie reminds us that when Demaratus was asked whether he held his tongue because he was a fool or for want of words, he replied, "a fool cannot hold his tongue"

David realised that it was not enough for his conversation to be guarded at the mouth, but he also needed a guard around his conduct. And folks, Christian behaviour is so important because it too reveals the reality of Christ in you!

You see the problem of behaviour must be settled at a deeper level, it must be resolved in the heart!

Centuries later, Jesus would say, Matt.12 v 34.

David knew if his words, upon which he would be judged, were to be right, then his heart must be right for it’s out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh! In other words, what’s in the well comes up in the bucket!

David knew if his heart was right his character, conduct, and his conversation would be right.

David was no fool! He knows he has one day to stand in the presence of a holy God and give an account, he was not for dismissing this so lightly. He was not going to allow those who professed to be his friends drag him down in the muck and mire of their way of life.

I received a call from one of our members some years ago. Pastor, I need to see you desperately! When I arrived at the house I was informed that the son and only child of that home was in prison in Spain.

He had gone on holiday with some so called friends and while there they met up with some other of their friends who decided to have a party one evening in the apartment they were staying in.

During the party a police raid took place. All the others were worldly wise and had realised what was happening and skipped over the balcony and got away leaving my friend to carry the can. Of course when the apartment was searched a quantity of drugs was found leaving my friend in some position.

The outcome of that story was that my friend spent a number of months in jail, to date is still barred from entering any foreign country and has a police record which of course has far reaching consequences with respect to the kind of responsible job he can now hold. It has just about ruined his life. Was his rebellion worth it? No! No! A thousand times no.

I tell you that because, by our conversation, conduct, and companions we will be justified or we will be judged.

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