Title: You Will Prosper (Joshua 01:1-9)
Content Prosperity means that everything is going well. In other words, it is prosperous that all desired wishes come true. You can earn money when you think you must earn money this year, and getting married when you think you must get married this year is the best way to get married. As the chorus of Hymn 434 says, "No matter what happens, you will prosper." How many people out of the many people in the world live happily ever after? I wonder if it is our life to be deceived every day by saying, “If it doesn’t work this year, it will be next year”. However, this text teaches us the way to success. "Wherever you go, you will prosper." "Your road will be smooth, and you will prosper." God is teaching the way to prosperity. Our church members pray for the blessing of all things prosper this year.
1. In order for all things to prosper, we must first obey the Word of God (verses 1-3)
After Moses died, God commanded Joshua to lead the Israelites into the land of Canaan. I thought it would be unreasonable to lead a people who had not eaten well and had not been trained in the military for 40 years against the seven tribes of Canaan. Joshua obeyed and went forward, for he was confident.
According to Numbers 13:1-33, when one man from each of the 12 tribes was selected and sent to spy out the land of Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb were convinced of the victory, and the representatives of the ten tribes all said that they would fail. It is the God who promised to give to the people of Israel, and we could have confidence that we would be victorious. What we usually obey is reluctantly, to preserve face, or to fear being punished. But obeying Joshua It was voluntary obedience that obeyed with confidence and confidence. Whether it was when Genesis 12 told them to leave their hometown or Genesis 22 told them to offer their only son as a burnt offering, they all believed that even the dead would raise them, so they put it into action (Hebrews 11:17). Malachi 3:8-10 tells us to test whether you give tithes to give blessings. According to 1 Samuel 15:22-23, it is said that he takes more pleasure in obedience than burnt offerings and other sacrifices. Then, obedience is more important than today's worship practices. God has repeatedly pointed out that He will bless those who keep His commandments (Deuteronomy 10:13, 11:13, 28:2).
2. Those who are strong and courageous can prosper (verses 6-8)
It is said that the Israelites were like grasshoppers compared to the Canaanites (Numbers 13:33). Therefore, he had to be strong and courageous.
(1) First, we were told not to let the book of the law depart from our mouths. The word of God is our strength. Because all of them are God's promises.
We know a lot of God's Word, but few keep it. This is of no use.
(2) They were told not to lean to the left or the right. We tend to lean toward people, material things, and God.
It is not good to be biased. It is also not good to be biased toward God and forget the duty of man.
3. We can prosper when God is with us (verse 9)
“Wherever you go, the Lord your God is with you” (verse 9). If God is with you, you will prosper. In Genesis 39:2-3, when Joseph was a servant in Potiphar's house, "the LORD was with him, and he prospered, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian... saw it." Although Joseph had neither learned nor seen anything, God was with him and he prospered.
The word “together” refers to God intervening, exhorting, directing, and controlling, as opposed to the usual word being together. That way it can be annoying.
Let's try to get the blessing of prosperity. To that end, let's obey God's word and have a strong and courageous heart, so as not to lean to the left or right. You will receive the blessing of prospering because God is with you.