1. Fighting in Unity

2. Last week – God’s promise to the new leader
Do the work of God relying on the promises of God
Do the work of God according to God’s rules
The LORD is with you as you obey
Meditation on the Word of God renews your mind and enables you to obey

3. JOSHUA 1:10-18 Comfort or Commitment?
Wife asks you to take the dog out late at night when you are tired & want to watch the Olympics. What do you do?
PRAY

4. The Order to Cross the Jordan
Joshua 1:10 – 18
The Order to Cross the Jordan
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’ ”
12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying, 13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them, 15 until the LORD has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

5. Joshua 1: 10-18
16 So they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”

6. 5 6
SETTING THE SCENE 1 4 2 3

7. Divisions of the Promised Land

8. Numbers 32: 5-7, 16-18, 23
5 Therefore they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.” 6 And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here? 7 Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD has given them?
16 Then they came near to him and said: “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, 17 but we ourselves will be armed, ready to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place; 
23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do what has proceeded out of your mouth.”

10. CONQUERING REQUIRES UNITY
Unity comes by DOING things with & for others
Gal 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, & so fulfill the law of Christ.
Matt 25: 40, 45
“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
“Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
Tidying up together – “It’s not my job/mess”

11. UNITY = COMMITMENT before COMFORT
14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them, 15 until the LORD has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
COMMITMENT INVOLVES A ‘CHOICE’.
Like a marriage, unity means pressing on even when you might feel like giving up

12. UNITY (COMMITMENT )IS NOT ‘NATURAL’
‘ME FIRST’ mentality
18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death.
Commitment to a cause or a leader or a project or a ministry (or a diet or exercise plan) is not easy or natural. It requires discipline and a sense of unity – fighting a common foe.
Commitment to a cause or a leader or a project or a ministry (or a diet or exercise plan) is not easy or natural. It requires discipline and a sense of unity – fighting a common foe.

13. PRINCIPLES FOR TODAY OBEDIENCE PRECEDES SUCCESS
v1 – 9
CONQUERING REQUIRES UNITY & COMMITMENT
Keeping our promises to God and others
PUTTING COMMITMENT BEFORE COMFORT LEADS TO VICTORY
The promised land was conquered (the Kingdom of God still has to be built)
SKIPPING OUR COMMITMENTS HAS CONSEQUENCES
23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do what has proceeded out of your mouth.”

14. WILL YOU KEEP YOUR COMMITMENT?
1 Tim 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.
Numbers 32:24 “…do what has proceeded out of your mouth.”
Together we can build God’s Kingdom.
If you have promised anything to God or others, keep your word. OR ELSE!
If you have not and are only seeking your own comfort, look for something to do today to help someone else.

15. … in unity & with commitment to God and your fellow soldiers?
Will you …
Fight the Good Fight
… in unity & with commitment to God and your fellow soldiers?