STUDY 2: DIVINE IMPERATIVES FOR SUCCESS
Joshua 1:6-9.
 

“For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8). God delights in our success in all things which He has appointed for us to do in life. And He has shown us how to succeed in His Word. If we follow His revealed plan, our lives will be fulfilled and meaningful, our ministries will be fruitful and successful.

As soon as He called and commissioned Joshua, He also gave him the divine blueprint for success in the divinely appointed task. God first gave Joshua a promise, then a precept and finally a concluding promise again! Promise, Precept and Promise again. First a threefold promise: “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, … There shall not any man be able to stand before thee … I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Joshua 1:3,5), then a threefold precept: “Be strong and of a good courage … Observe to do according to all the law … This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein” (Joshua 1:6-8). Then the concluding promise: “that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest … thou shalt have good success … the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:7-9).

This is always the way of God’s dealing with His children. God’s promises are not meant to set aside His precepts, but rather are given to encourage us to do with all our hearts and might whatever He has commanded us. Divine assurance is an incentive or encouragement to the performance of duty.
 

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AND COURAGE INDISPENSABLE

Joshua 1:6,7a,9; 2Chronicles 15:7; 1Corinthians 16:13; 2Timothy 2:1; Deuteronomy 31:6,10.

“Be strong and of a good courage”. “Only be thou strong and very courageous.” “Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:6,7,9). Repeated three times, being strong and courageous must be very important and indeed indispensable if we are to follow God and do all His will. Joshua’s task entailed the facing of problems and dangers such as would make ordinary men trouble and retreat, he was to move on without hesitation. Upon entering Canaan, powerful enemies had to be faced, for the land was inhabited by races of giants. Formidable obstacles had to be overcome. He must be strong and very courageous.

The same is true in our Christian lives. To obey God and regulate our character and conduct by the divine standard requires resoluteness, fortitude and daring perseverance. To do God’s work in His appointed way, when the flesh and the world are suggesting an easier way, requires strength and courage. It requires resolution and courage to swim against the tide of popular opinion. But we have the promise of divine presence and protection while we walk the path of obedience. If God be for you, who can be against you? Look away from yourself, from your enemies, from your difficulties. Look unto Him who has said, “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Count upon Him, lean on Him, look only at Him and strength will displace weakness, courage will displace fear.

Joshua’s new assignment, duty and ministry made many enemies for him. When it became known that Jericho had been captured and Ai vanquished, some kings who never bothered about him before, conspired together to destroy him. Such will be the experience of the obedient Christian. If he is faithful and obedient to Christ, many of his old friends will turn against him and become enemies. The faithful, loyal worker and minister cannot make all people turn to be friends. By his very faithfulness in the ministry, he will make many enemies.

“For unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land” (Joshua 1:6). A great work lay ahead for Joshua to accomplish. His obedience required strength and courage because it involved years of persevering effort. And so it is for each of us. The protracted warfare of the Christian life and ministry demands that we be strong in the grace of God. But we only have to live a day at a time, overcome only one temptation at a time, conquer only one enemy at a time. His grace is sufficient for each of us.
 

SUCCESS AND CONQUEST THROUGH IMPLICIT OBEDIENCE

Joshua 1:7b,8;Deuteronomy 5:32,33; 31:10-13; Psalm 1:1-3; Matthew 7:21-25; 1 Timothy 4:15,16; James 1:22-25; Revelation 22:14.

“That thou mayest observe to do according to all the law … turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper” (Joshua 1:7). Implicit obedience was demanded from Joshua if he expected to succeed in his ministry. He was not to turn to the right or to the left. He was not to lean on his own understanding or to be inclined to the opinions of others. He was to be governed by the written Word of God in all things. The Christian is not to pick and choose which commandment to obey if he is to please God. Our obedience can only be acceptable to God if we have “respect unto all His commandments” (Psalm 119:6). We must not be partial and discriminating in obedience to God’s Word.

Joshua was not permitted to overlook, belittle or set aside any of the commandments of God. He was to adhere rigidly and constantly to the Word set before him. No matter how contrary to natural wisdom, no matter how unpopular the precept might be to others, God requires full and continuous obedience from him. And so God demands of us today. Obedience, total obedience, implicit obedience is the path of prosperity and success. The path of obedience is the path of blessing: the treading thereof may incur the frowns of men but what does that matter if we have the smile, approval and the reward of our Master.

“This BOOK … shall not depart out of thy mouth … thou shalt meditate therein day and night … observe to do according to ALL that is written therein” (Joshua 1:8). Joshua was to meditate on the word in the Book, not only to preach it to others, but to observe to do all that is written therein. Our lives and all our actions in ministry must be governed and regulated by the Book of God. We must order all our steps by the written Word of God. If Joshua was to succeed and complete the work which Moses began, then he must obey, teach and maintain the Law which God gave through Moses. We cannot expect the God of Truth to be with us if we neglect the Truth of God. Read, meditate, believe, obey and preach God’s Word.
 

STEADFAST SOLDIERS OF CHRIST INVINCIBLE

Joshua 1:9; Judges 6:14,16; Jeremiah 1:7,8; Deuteronomy 1:17,18; 2 Chronicles 32:7,8; Isaiah 43:1,2; Jeremiah 42:11; Luke 12:4-7.

“Have I not commanded thee? Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9). Let not the greatness of the task, or the weight and gravity of the assignment, or the fierceness of the enemies, or the sense of your human weakness bring fear to your heart. Keep your eyes on the might of Omnipotence, look unto Him for divine enablement. He is your sufficiency.

Looking at the difficulties or looking at the enemy weakens the heart. Listening to the voice of men and leaning on the arms of flesh increase fear and unbelief and paralyse faith. Meditating on the immensity of our work and the great demands of the ministry depresses the soul and saps spiritual energy. Looking unto God who called and commissioned us, meditating on His promises and believing His unchangeable Word strengthen the heart and give supernatural boldness.
 

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