Sermon snippet – The Holy Calling of God – Part III
INTRODUCTION – II Timothy 1:8-12 assures all Christians that God has “called us with [a] holy calling” (verse 9). As we have studied in the past two weeks, this calling extends to our homes and to our work and requires both patience and faithfulness. The teaching of Joshua 1:1-9 provides additional insight regarding our high and holy calling.
1. WE MUST LISTEN TO THE ONE WHO HAS CALLED US
Verse 1 tells us that “the LORD spoke” – and Joshua listened intently. It would be easy (and wrong) to dismiss this important step by saying, “of course he listened! God was speaking audibly!” However, this form of communication was not the norm. Most of the time, Joshua was called to heed the written Word of God (verse 8), specifically the first five books of our Old Testament. It is in the Bible that we, like Joshua, hear the daily voice of our Savior God.
2. WE MUST LET GO OF THE PAST
In verse 1, Joshua is referred to as “Moses’ minister.” He had been an assistant for forty years. Did he feel inadequate, even inferior? Verse 2 indicates that Joshua was God’s man for this task. No, Joshua was not Moses, but it is just as true that Moses was not Joshua. No spiritually sensitive Christian feels good enough for God’s “holy calling,” but we cannot cling to our past failures – or, rather, we cannot let our past failures cling to us. Let us join with the Apostle Paul in “forgetting those things which are behind” (Philippians 3:13). As Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
3. WE MUST LOOK FORWARD TO THE PROMISES OF GOD
Verses 3-7 provide a specific promise to Joshua – the taking of the Promised Land. Verse 7 gives a general principle of God’s plan to all believers, “that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” Obviously, this abiding principle assumes that we are in the will of God. Some would pervert this text to tell you that the only thing that keeps you from being fabulously rich (and having fabulous hair) is a lack of faith. Remember, God’s prosperity is not gold’s prosperity (which is, after all, fool’s gold). At this time, Joshua was about eighty years old, and it would take seven years of fighting to reclaim this land promised to Abraham. He needed – really needed – the presence and promises of God. Likewise, this forward-looking approach to life keeps us pressing on (Philippians 3:14 – “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”).
4. WE MUST LEARN FROM THE WORD OF GOD
We have already referenced verse 8. Joshua had five books of the Bible; we have sixty-six (including the book of Joshua). In a postmodernistic world that increasingly rejects the very concept of truth, we have firm, unshakable ground – the Word of God. Let us obey (“observe”) what is so clearly good – and good for us and others.
5. WE MUST LEAN ON OUR LORD
Verse 9 commands Joshua to “be not afraid.” God would not waste His Word on things that do not matter or that are not real. Thus, we know that fear is a genuine snare for us. Our present culture’s obsession with fear indicates a core godlessness that seeks to demean our humanity and destroy our faith. Those who promulgate fear are seeking our worship; they want us to look upon them as saviors. “Be strong and of a good courage”; stand up against the fear mongers in the strength of our God.
CONCLUSION – Romans 8:15 and II Timothy 1:7 are good places to be. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are delivered from eternal “fear” into His everlasting “love.” This is a “holy calling.”