1. Be Strong A New Beginning Introduction

2. Why read the book of Joshua? What does it mean to us today? The book of Joshua is a book of new beginnings for God’s people Jesus, our Joshua, “ blessed us with all spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3) –Yet we live often like the defeated paupers New Leader –Moses from Exodus to Deuteronomy 34 –Moses not forgotten even in Joshua (50 times) “God buries His workers, but His works goes on.”

3. –Joshua the slave Hoshea: salvation (Num 13:8 NIV) Joshua, Jehovah is salvation (Num 13:16) –Hebrew form of Jesus (Matt 1:21) Belonged to the tribe of Ephraim Firstborn son of Nun (I Chron 7:20-27) –In danger on the night of Passover (Ex 11-12) He saw all the signs and wonders in Egypt (Ex 7- 12) He saw the Lord opening & closing the Red Sea –Joshua the soldier Defeat of the Amalekites, first official record (Ex 17:8-16) A general while Moses a prophet& legislator

4. A man of great courage Skills with the sword Chosen for a special work in the future (Ex 17:14) –Preparation for many battles in the Promised Land –Joshua the servant Servant: minister; official assistant to Moses Secret of Joshua’s victories: his submission to the Word of God (Josh 1:8) & to the God of the Word (Josh 5:13-15) Worshipper Jealous for the glory of God & for the honor & authority of Moses He took the lot last (Josh 19:49-51)

5. –Joshua the spy One of the twelve (Num 13) Joshua & Caleb Didn’t permit the problems & difficulties to rob him of his faith in God –“One with God id a majority” He learned how to win and accept the defeats –Joshua the successor Moses asked God to give the people a new leader & He appointed Joshua (Deut 3:23-29) Encouragement (31:1-8) & laying hands on Joshua (Deut 34:9) He was human and made mistakes; still God’s chosen leader (Josh 1:17)

6. Secret of Joshua’s victories: faith in the Word of God (Joshua 1:7-9) –“Be strong” New Land –The promise of the land 87 times: Israel’s entering, conquering, & claiming the Promised and Moses’ farewell speech Land: @200 times Posses: @50 times –Israel owned the land due to the covenant with Abraham Their enjoyment depended on their faithful obedience to God

7. Chastening in the land (Judges) Slavery in Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah & Ezekiel) Promised land –Place of rest –Inheritance –The dwelling place of God (Josh 12:9, 11) –The glory of God (Ez 20:6,15) –The pleasant land (Dan 8:9) –The glorious land (Dan 11:16, 41) –A land flowing with milk & honey –A land of plenty –The importance of the land Jerusalem in “the center of the nations” (Josh 5:5 NIV)

8. “the center of the world” (Josh 38:12 NASB) –Center: navel; lifeline between God & the world Stage for redemption –Focus Gen 3:15: Savior to the world Gen 12: call of Abraham Gen 49:10: from the land of Judah II Sam 7: from the family of David Isa 7:14: born of virgin Micah 5:2: in Bethlehem Isa 53; Ps 22: Die for the world New Life –Deal with the life of God’s people, not death

9. –Book of Joshua deals with battles, defeats, sins, & failures on earth, not heaven Illustrates how believers can say goodbyes to old life & enter into their inheritance in Jesus Christ Illustrates how we can face the enemies, defeat them, and claim all we have in Christ (Eph 1:3) Book of Ephesians & Joshua: doctrine & practicality Rest –God’s sabbath rest after creation (Heb 4:4; Gen 2:2) –Salvation rest in Christ (Heb 4:1, 3, 8-9, Matt 11:28- 30) –Believer’s eternal rest in heaven (Heb 4:4) –The rest after the conquest of Canaan (Josh 3:7-19)

10. –Canaan rest: picture of the rest that Christian believers experience when they surrender all to Christ & claim their inheritance by faith –Geographic locations Egypt – place of death & bondage –Delivered from death by the blood of the lamb & safety across the Red Sea by opening & closing The wilderness – the believers who live in unbelief & disobedience; don’t want to enter into the rest & riches of the inheritance in Christ –Egypt still in their heart & desire to go back to the old life Canaan – Christian life: conflict & victory;faith & obedience; rest & spiritual riches –Enemies around them in Egypt

11. –Enemies behind them after crossing the Red Sea –After crossing Jordan River enemies before them yet conquered by faith –Victorious life isn’t once for all triumphs that will ends all the problems –Series of conflicts & victories »“Series of new beginnings” Alexander Whyte »The land was taken, but it remained “very much land & be possessed” (Josh 11:23) –We have all we need for victorious life, but we must possess our inheritance by faith –One step at a time (1:3) –“How long will you wait before you begin to take the possession of the land that the Lord … has give you (Josh 18:3 NIV) Babylon: captivity due to disobedience –God’s chastening (Heb 12: 1-12)

12. –The leading person in the book of Joshua: Lord, not Joshua Joshua gave the glory to God “The Lord God of Israel”: 14 times –Glory or disgrace to God’s name Spiritual map –In wilderness a complaining people –In Canaan: conquering people –Wilderness march: an experience of delay, defeat, & death –Canaan march: an experience of life, power, & victory