SUCCESS BY FAITH

The Book of Joshua #1

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

1.  GOD ALWAYS FINISHES WHAT HE BEGINS

(Deuteronomy 6:23, NASB) “He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.”

2.  GOD’S SERVANTS DIE BUT HIS WORK NEVER DIES

(Joshua 1:1–2, NLT) “After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.”

3.  SERVING PREPARES YOU FOR LARGER RESPONSIBILITIES

(Joshua 1:1–2, KJV) “The Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister,…”

4.  CONDITIONAL PROMISES HAVE A STIPULATION

(Joshua 1:3–4, NLT) “I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.”

a.  Set your foot

b.  Possess your promise

(Ephesians 1:3, NLT) “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.”

5.  GOD GAVE THE LAND A LITTLE AT A TIME: PROCESS

(Exodus 23:29–30, NLT) “But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land.”

6.  GOD MAKES THE LEADER

(Joshua 1:5, NLT) “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.”

7.  GOD’S OPERATION AND OUR COOPERATION MEANS SUCCESS

(Joshua 1:6–7, NLT) “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.”

(2 Peter 1:3–8, NLT) “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

8.  GOD’S SUCCESS PRINCIPLE

(Joshua 1:8, NLT) “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

a.  Meditate on the Word

• Speak the Word aloud

• Pray the Word aloud

b.  Obey everything in the Word

(Joshua 1:10–18, NLT) “Joshua then commanded the officers of Israel, “Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He told them, “Remember what Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you: ‘The Lord your God is giving you a place of rest. He has given you this land.’ Your wives, children, and livestock may remain here in the land Moses assigned to you on the east side of the Jordan River. But your strong warriors, fully armed, must lead the other tribes across the Jordan to help them conquer their territory. Stay with them until the Lord gives them rest, as he has given you rest, and until they, too, possess the land the Lord your God is giving them. Only then may you return and settle here on the east side of the Jordan River in the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, assigned to you.” They answered Joshua, “We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us. We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. And may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your orders and does not obey your words and everything you command will be put to death. So be strong and courageous!”